page_title: Tmetolophota steropastis
section_title: Habitat and host plant
hierarchical_section_title: Tmetolophota steropastis / Habitat and host plant
caption_attribution_description: English: Damage to Phormium tenax flax caused by the larvae of Tmetolophota steropastis. See iNaturalist observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15866903
context_page_description: Tmetolophota steropastis, or the flax notcher moth, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. New Zealand flax is the host plant for the larvae of this moth. The damage the larvae cause to the leaves ensures that they cannot be used for weaving.
context_section_description: The larvae of T. steropastis consume the leaves of the New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax).
caption: "Notch" formed from larvae damage to Phormium tenax.
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