Heterocrossa ignobilis facts for kids

Heterocrossa ignobilis is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Alfred Philpott in 1930 using material he collected at Governor's Bush, Mount Cook and named Carposina ignobilis. George Hudson discussed this species under that name in 1939 in A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. 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. He proposed that endemic New Zealand species that agreed with the original type specimen of the genus Heterocrassa be assigned to that genus. In 1988 Dugdale assigned this species to the genus Heterocrossa. The holotype specimen is held at the Canterbury Museum.

Description

The wingspan is about 16 mm. The head, palpi and thorax are grey mixed with brown and the abdomen is ochreous. The forewings are narrow and ochreous-grey densely irrorated (speckled) with fuscous. The basal patch is indicated by blackish scales. The hindwings are shining grey.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It has been collected in Canterbury.

Biology and behaviour

This species is on the wing in January.