About Ichneutica atristriga
Hoare described the larvae of Ichneutica atristriga as follows: the larva is pallid, with a pale brown head capsule that is broadly darker along a central stripe and on the sides. The prothorax has a yellowish brown tinge, and there is a distinct dark-edged greyish mid-dorsal stripe that becomes poorly defined on the thorax. On each side there is a dark subdorsal stripe, thicker towards the anterior end of each segment and edged with whitish below; only the whitish edging is distinct on the thorax. There is also a greyish lateral stripe, which is again more poorly defined on the thorax. Walker described the adult male of this species as follows: Male. Ferruginous-red. Palpi ascend very slightly, extend a little beyond the head; the second joint is fringed beneath; the third is elongate-conical, fully one-fourth the length of the second. Antennae are setose. The fore tegulae of the thorax have a slender dark band bordered with cinereous. The abdomen is cinereous with a fawn-colour tinge, and extends a little beyond the hind wings. Fore wings have an irregular hoary costal stripe that extends from the base to five-sixths of the wing length, and partly contains the orbicular and reniform marks, which are incompletely bordered with ferruginous. A black streak runs from the base and ends behind the inner end of the non-oblique orbicular mark. A row of blackish points sits on the veins halfway between the reniform mark and the slightly oblique exterior border. Hind wings are aeneous; the fringe is paler and edged with whitish. Body length is 9 lines; wing length is 22 lines. The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 35 and 42 mm, and the adult female has a wingspan of between 35 and 41 mm. I. atristriga can potentially be confused with the smaller species I. propria. However, I. atristriga has thorax and forewings with a pinkish tinge, and I. propria has a dark streak on the discal part of the forewing that I. atristriga does not have. This species is endemic to New Zealand. I. atristriga is found throughout the North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island.
