Metrosideros robusta | Metrosideros polymorpha | Metrosideros excelsa | Metrosideros umbellata |
"One mile up the river from the last point is a small creek of fresh water, issuing from an extensive lagoon clothed with arborescent species of Metrosideros of great beauty. The banks are covered with the most interesting plants, amongst which I observed two species of Calytris, a species of Acacia with a scolopendrous-stem, and several Papilionaceous plants. The Angophoras on the flats are gigantic."
Possums selectively browse native vegetation causing particular damage to broadleaved trees, notably Metrosideros species including rata.
The larvae of the nominate subspecies are whitish and feed on Acacia koa, Aleurites moluccana, Cheirodendron gaudichaudii, Coprosma foliosa and other Coprosma species, Metrosideros, Pipturus, Rubus hawaiiensis and Smilax sandwicensis.