Declana leptomera (Spotted manuka moth)

Kingdom:   Animalia
Phylum:     Arthropoda
Class:        Insecta
Order:       Lepidoptera
Family:      Geometridae
Subfamily: Ennominae
Genus:      Declana
Species: D. leptomera
Binominal name: Declana leptomera
Common name: Spotted manuka moth

Declana leptomera is a native moth seen September to March throughout New Zealand but it is more common in the North Island. It has a body length approx 3cm. The caterpillars eat leaves of various plants including manuka and pine.

Declana leptomera .JPG

Declana leptomera Spotted manuka -002.JPG

Declana leptomera Spotted manuka .JPG

Declana leptomera Spotted manuka moth-003.JPG

Declana leptomera -005.JPG

The underside of this moth.
Spotted manuka moth Declana leptomera -001.JPG

Another moth of the same species with more pronounced marking.
Spotted manuka moth Declana leptomera 7-11-2010 9-44-48 a.m..JPG

Declana leptomera.JPG

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0