Story: Te aitanga pepeke – the insect world

Pūriri moth caterpillar

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.

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Reference: 10033132

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How to cite this page

Bradford Haami, Te aitanga pepeke – the insect world – Moths, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12618/puriri-moth-caterpillar (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bradford Haami, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Robert Bicker
26 September 2023

With Puri being a Teak, one of our hardest woods how does this creature burrow. If it just uses its mandibles where does the energy come from. I have a notion it excrets a liquid which softens the wood. Would welcome your thoughts