Puriri Moth (Aenetus virescens) ~ The Eternal Weight of Glory
New Zealand boasts many strange and beautiful creatures. The most beautiful are difficult to find. One must know where to look. Let me tell you about the most beautiful moth I have ever seen, called Puriri. Puriri lives for 6 years as a ‘grub’. She tunnels through tree bark, all alone, in the cold and the dark. During this time she is hunted by hungry parrots and other animals who tear at the bark in an effort to consume her. And for all of these 6 years she survives by eating a meager meal of wood. Finally, Puriri emerges with a pair of magical, green-marble wings. These magnificent wings stretch 150mm—she is New Zealand’s largest moth. Yet the freedom does not last long for her. After being released from her prison, she lives for just 48 hours. After 6 years of struggle, Puriri only gets to enjoy her wings for 2 days. I have told the story of the Puriri moth to many people, and these people...