Green-Marked Owlet

George Hudson describes the eggs of this species as follows:

The egg is semi-globose, considerably flattened above and beneath. A number of branching ribs radiate from the micropyle, the spaces between them being slightly ribbed transversely. Its colour is pale green, becoming dark brown in the centre as the enclosed embryo develops. Larvae start their lives coloured pale brown with numerous black warts emitting black bristles. After about twelve days the larvae turn a pale green and after moulting, lateral and subdorsal lines begin to appear. Hudson describes the fully mature larva of this species is as follows:

A full grown larva is pale greenish-brown, inclining to yellow on the ventral surface. There lateral lines consist of a series of black markings near the posterior margin of each segment; the subdorsal lines are represented by four oblique black marks on each side of the four posterior segments of the larva. The region between these lines is much clouded with yellowish green or pink, the larva having a tendency to diverge into pink and green varieties. The anal segment is dull yellow. The head is brown, with two black stripes and several black dots.

Walker described the adults of this species as follows:

Male and female. Ferruginous-cinereous. …

Although this species can be found in a variety of habitats throughout the country it is scarce or absent from inland sites of tussock grassland.

Adults of this species can be found on the wing throughout the year. The adults moths are attracted to light. They have been collected via a mercury vapour light trap. The sex pheromones used by I. insignis consist of combinations of tetradecenyl and dodecenyl acetates or alcohols.