spear grass

It was the stalks, above the upper joint, of spear-grass and redtop grass growing so profusely in Weathersfield.

The larva feeds on the spear-grass (Aciphylla squarrosa), an abundant plant on the coast hills near Wellington.

The pupa state is spent, in an earthen chamber, amongst the roots of the spear-grass, and the moth emerges during the summer.

If you get scratched up by spear-grass and thorns and then step into some swamp-pool it's all off.