This is the larva or caterpillar of the pūriri moth. Known as mokoroa, it gnaws into the trunk of the pūriri tree and lives on the sap, causing its eventual death. This gave rise to the saying, ‘A small mokoroa can fell a pūriri tree’ – meaning that we should not underestimate the impact of small things.
Using this item
Department of Conservation
Reference:
10033132
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Comments
With Puri being a Teak, one
Robert Bicker (not verified)
26 September 2023
Add new comment