About Epyaxa rosearia (Doubleday, 1843)
The scientific name of this species is Epyaxa rosearia (Doubleday, 1843). The eggs of Epyaxa rosearia are pale yellow, oval, and have a smooth shell. Alex Purdie provided the following description of the species' caterpillar: When at rest, the caterpillar is approximately three-quarters of an inch long. Its body is light green, with faint whitish longitudinal lines. It has a narrow median dorsal stripe that matches the body's ground color, and this stripe is bordered on each side by one of the whitish lines. There is one whitish subdorsal line on each side of the median stripe. The ground color appears again as a lateral line, which is edged below with whitish. The underside has fine whitish or yellowish longitudinal markings, similar to the markings on the upper side. When the larva contracts, yellowish or whitish rings are visible at the junctions of its segments. The caterpillar's head is greenish-yellow, and its body tapers slightly toward the head. The caterpillars of this species form a glossy chrysalis that is very dark brownish black. These chrysalises can be found among leaves on the forest floor. Adult E. rosearia vary in appearance; they may have a pinkish tinge, a brownish hue, or the more common olive green coloration. E. rosearia is very common throughout New Zealand.
