[4][5] Its favoured habitats are wetland and native forest, but it can be found in urban parks and gardens, as cabbage trees are commonly grown in cultivation.

[5] The eggs of E. verriculata are bright green and are laid on the underside of leaves in neat parallel rows in autumn and spring.

[6] The larvae reach 25 mm in length before pupating, either on the cabbage tree in crevices or dead leaf bases or on the ground underneath.

If disturbed, the will only fly a short distance before finding another dead brown leaf to settle on, avoiding the green fresh leaves.

[6] Although attracted to light, the adult moth is inconspicuous when resting by day on cabbage tree leaves, and this camouflage helps protect it from predators.