Bug FAQLarge Grey Owlet
Ichneutica ustistriga · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The large grey owlet moth has a mauvish-grey colour with distinctive black discal rings and ferruginous markings on its forewings. It lives throughout New Zealand in gardens, orchards, grasslands and native forest, and adults can be seen resting on fences and tree trunks year-round.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are mauvish-grey with three irregular black discal rings, a broken ferruginous-brown band near the outer edge, a distinct ferruginous streak near the inner angle, and ferruginous marks along the costa; the hindwings are brownish. Overall wing colour is mauvish grey, making it unlikely to be confused with other moths because of these distinctive patterns.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of about 36 to 46 mm, while females range from 38 to 53 mm. The body length is roughly 7 to 8 lines and the wings measure about 16 to 18 lines.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
During the day adults often rest on fences and tree trunks.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The larvae consume a variety of herbaceous plants as they grow. Adults are on the wing throughout the year and are attracted to sugar and light traps.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be found flying at any time of year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is endemic to New Zealand, occurring from the Three Kings Islands down to Stewart Island.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Because of its mauvish-grey colour and distinctive forewing patterns, it is unlikely to be mistaken for other moths.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the larvae of the large grey owlet eat?
The caterpillars feed on herbaceous plants such as Muehlenbeckia species, Olearia hectorii and Plantago lanceolata.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult large grey owlet moths active?
Adults are on the wing throughout the year and are attracted to sugar and light traps.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell a large grey owlet moth apart from other moths?
Its mauvish-grey forewings have three irregular black discal rings and distinctive ferruginous markings that are not seen on similar species.
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_ustistriga
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.