Ichneutica epiastra is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species prefers open habitats such as wetlands, dunes and forest clearings. Eggs are laid in the summer or autumn and larvae feed during winter and spring. The larval host species are found within the genus Austroderia. The adult moths are on the wing between October to February. Adult I. epiastra can possibly be confused with the similar species I. arotis and I. haedifrontella however there are differences in appearance that enables I. epiastra to be distinguished from these two species. In particular I. epiastra has long sharp-tipped ‘horns' on its head that are diagnostic. The adults of this species appear reluctant to be attracted to light although they do come more frequently to the brighter mercury vapour traps. Taxonomy This moth was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 and named Leucania epiastra. The male lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. In 1988 J. S. Dugdale, in his catalogue on New Zealand lepidopera, placed this species within the Dipaustica genus. In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae species. During this review the genus Ichneutica was greatly expanded and the genus Dipaustica was subsumed into that genus as a synonym. As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica epiastra. Description George Hudson described the eggs of I. epiastra as follows: Hudson went on to describe the larva of this species: Hudson goes on to state that the pupa appears light brown in colour initially and then turns a shiny very dark brown. Meyrick first described the adults of this species as follows: Hudson also described the adults of this species: This species is variable in both colour and size. The colour of adults of this species can range from pale to pink ochreous up to a deep brown. The adult male wingspan is between 33 and 43 mm and the female wingspan is between 38 and 45 mm. There are specimens that have been collected at Ōkārito in Westland that are regarded as a dwarf form of I. epiastra as they are very similar both in appearance and in genitalia but are smaller than the typical I. epiastra. The dwarf Westland form male has a wingspan of between 32 and 33