Ichneutica agorastis

Meyrick described this species as follows:

Male, female. — 35 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax reddish-fuscous; thorax with small anterior and median crests. Antennae fuscous, in male with rather short strongly ciliated pectinations. Abdomen grey, anal tuft light reddish. Legs reddish-fuscous, irrorated with ochreous whitish. Forewings moderately dilated, costa almost straight, apex obtuse, hindmargin waved, obliquely rounded; rather dark reddish-fuscous, lines greyish-tinged, edged with dark reddish-fuscous, tolerably defined; claviform small, obscure, greyish; orbicular and reniform dark grey, margined with white and then with dark reddish-fuscous, orbicular round, reniform oblong : a tolerably distinct median shade; subterminal whitish-ochreous, obscure, waved; a hind-marginal series of black lunules : cilia reddish-fuscous. Hindwings fuscous; cilia whitish, with a fuscous line.I. agorastis is very similar in appearance to I. hartii and has also been confused with I. alopa. I. agorastis can be distinguished from I. hartii as the former species normally has a larger wingspan. I. agorastis also has a more reddish tinge to their forewings in comparison to I. hartii whose forewings tend to have a purplish colouration. I. agorastis can be distinguished from I. alopa as the former has more distinctive and paler crosslines on its forewings. The wingspan of I. …

Ichneutica agorastis is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in the South Island and Stewart Island, however the presence of this species in the North Island has yet to be confirmed.

Adults of this species are on the wing from January to April. They are attracted to light and have been collected via a mercury vapour light trap.

The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae.