Bug FAQBlood-spotted Noctuid
Peripyra sanguinipuncta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The Blood-spotted Noctuid has a wingspan of about 4 cm and its forewings are covered in bright crimson spots, making it easy to recognise in New Zealand. It arrived from Australia in 2007, is now common in North Island grasslands and has been spotted on the South Island, with adults flying from February to April.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Its forewings are dotted with red spots, a pattern not shared by any other New Zealand moth.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan measures roughly 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from February through April in New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period in New Zealand runs from February to April.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Originally from Australia, it has been present in New Zealand since February 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
No other New Zealand moth shares its crimson-spotted forewings, so it is unlikely to be confused with another species.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I expect to see Blood-spotted Noctuid moths?
Adults are active from February to April.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth originally from?
It is an Australian species that has been recorded in New Zealand since 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteuxoa_sanguinipuncta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.