Large Grey Owlet

George Hudson describes the egg of this species as follows:

The egg is semi-globose, pale green, with numerous branching ribs radiating from the micropyle and faint transverse ribs between them. Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:

The larva is dull greyish-brown with blackish subdorsal and lateral lines; there is a series of pale spots below the subdorsal line, and an obscure whitish streak below the lateral line. Walker originally described the adults of this species as follows:

Cinereous, tinged with brown. Abdomen pale cinereous, reddish ferruginous at the tip. Fore wings with three very irregular black discal ringlets, with a very incomplete ferruginous-brown band near the exterior border, with a distinct ferruginous brown streak near the interior angle, and with ferruginous marks along the costa; ciliae ferruginous. Hind wings brownish. Length of the body 7 — 8 lines; of the wings 16 — 18 lines.The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 36 and 46 mm where as the female has a wingspan of between 38 and 53 mm. This moth has a mauvish grey wing colour and is unlikely to be confused with other species as the patterns on its forewing are distinctive.

It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island.

This species is on the wing throughout the year and is attracted to both sugar and light traps. Adult moths can be found at rest on fences and tree trunks during the day.

The larvae eat a variety of herbaceous plants. Recorded food plants include Muehlenbeckia australis, Muehlenbeckia complexa, Olearia hectorii, and Plantago lanceolata.