Notoreas edwardsi

This species was first described in 2010 by Brian Patrick and Robert J.B. Hoare.[3] It was named in honour of Eric Edwards.[3]

N. edwardsi larvae start off life green in colour but quickly change to brown.[3] As they mature their colour changes again to pink purple with white lines running side to side on their body.[3]

Adult moths of this species have pallid orange and white transverse markings on their forewings with orange and black-marked hindwings.[3] N. edwardsi is similar in appearance to its close relations N. elegans and N. casanova.[3]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[2] It only occurs at Big Sandhill, Mission Bay on Stewart Island.[3]

This species has only been seen in its natural habitat in December but it has been hypothesised that it may produce two broods in a season.[3] The female moth lays her eggs within the flowers buds of their hostplant.[4] When the larvae emerge from their eggs, they eat into the leaves or buds of their host, hiding from predators.[4] Once they are large enough, they emerge to feed from the fresh growth of the plant.[4] N. edwardsi pupate in a loose cocoon on the ground under their host.[4] The species spends approximately 43 days in their cocoon before emerging as an adult.[3] N. edwardsi are day flying moths.[4] They are low but fast flyers and constantly vibrate their wings to enable them to take off rapidly.[4]

The host plant for the larvae of N. edwardsi is the endemic plant Pimelea lyallii.[3]

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical.[1]