Bug FAQIchneutica scutata
Ichneutica scutata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Adult males have a wingspan of about 30 to 39 mm and females about 34 to 36.5 mm. The species is endemic to New Zealand and lives in lowland tussock grasslands and coastal dunes, but is uncommon in inland tussock grasslands. Larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants such as Plantago, Convolvulus, Plagianthus divaricatus, Bromus willdenowii and Poa annua, and pupate in the soil near these hosts.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Males are light reddish-brown on head, palpi and thorax with a whitish mix.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Male wingspan ranges from 30 to 39 mm; female wingspan from 34 to 36.5 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It likely prefers grasslands and open dunes, but is not common in inland tussock grasslands. It also occurs in lowland tussock grasslands and coastal dunes.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on herbaceous plants such as Plantago, Convolvulus, Plagianthus divaricatus, Bromus willdenowii and Poa annua.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Larvae eat various herbs, grasses and shrubs. Pupation occurs in the soil near the host plants.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from late March through July.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The moth is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It resembles I. insignis and I. skelloni but is much paler and has a reddish-brown forewing streak instead of a black one.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the larvae of Ichneutica scutata eat?
They feed on plants like Plantago, Convolvulus, Plagianthus divaricatus, Bromus willdenowii and Poa annua.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell Ichneutica scutata apart from similar moths?
It is paler and has a reddish-brown forewing streak, unlike the black streak of I. insignis and I. skelloni.
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/Ichneutica_scutata
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 2026-10-24.