Heterocrossa eriphylla

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 using a specimen he collected in Wellington in January.[2][3] In 1922 Meyrick classified Heterocrossa as a synonym of the genus Carposina.[4][5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[6] In 1978 Elwood Zimmerman argued that the genus Heterocrassa should not be a synonym of Carposina as the genitalia of the species within the genus Heterocrassa are distinctive.[4] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned the species back to the genus Heterocrossa.[2] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

H. eriphylla was described by Meyrick as follows:

Male. — 26 mm. Head and thorax whitish-greenish, shoulders olive-greenish. Palpi whitish-greenish, apex of basal joint and a band before middle of second fuscous. Antennae greyish-ochreous, basal joint dilated, whitish-greenish. Abdomen pale whitish-ochreous. Legs dark fuscous, apex of joints whitish, posterior pair pale whitish-ochreous. Forewings elongate, posteriorly slightly dilated, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, hindmargin straight, oblique ; pale greenish, irregularly irrorated with white, especially towards hindmargin ; about eight small black spots on costa, from which proceed obscure olive-green inwardly oblique strigulae ; three inwardly oblique pairs of large tufts in disc, olive-green anteriorly, white posteriorly, margined above and below by small black spots, first near base, second at 1⁄3, third at 2⁄3 ; a short black streak on fold between second pair, crossed by a cloudy black mark margining them anteriorly ; a slender white sinuate longitudinal line in disc between second and third pairs, unevenly black-margined, crossed by three or four irregular fine white strigae ; a sub-terminal series of small fine irregular black marks, angulated in middle ; hindmargin irregularly dotted with black scales : cilia whitish, towards base sprinkled with greenish. Hindwings and cilia whitish.[3]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[7][1] This species is found in the North Island and northern parts of the South Island.[8] Specimens of this moth have been collected near the Wellington Botanic Gardens and at the Ōrongorongo Valley,[9][10] as well as near Woodville in hill country.[11] This moth has also been collected at Paroa.[12] H. eriphylla is regarded as being relatively uncommon.[8]

Illustration of a H. eriphylla larva by George Hudson.

The adult moths are on the wing in December to April,[9] May and June.[12] This moth is a night flier and is attracted to light.[8] During the day the adult moths rest on tree trunks where their variable lichen mimicking colouration assists with their camouflage.[8] W. P. Cohen stated that he collected his specimens during the day while they were at rest on the trunks of weeping-willows.[9] The larvae of this species feed on the callus tissue generated by their host trees as a result of damage caused by other insects.[8] The larvae are believed to facilitate the development of rot in beech trees by keeping wounds open to the air.[13] The species pupates at their feeding site.[8]

Host species Fuscospora truncata

H. eriphylla lives in native forest habitat.[8] The larvae of this species feed on the wood of the beech trees Fuscospora fusca and Fuscospora truncata.[14]

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• Image of holotype specimen