Asterivora albifasciata facts for kids

Asterivora albifasciata is a species of moth in the family Choreutidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Alfred Philpott in 1924 and named Simaethis albifasciata. The holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.

Description

The wingspan is 11–12 mm. The head and thorax are bronzy-brown densely sprinkled with white. The antennae are bronzy-brown annulated with white. The abdomen is bronzy-brown, although the segmental divisions are white. The legs are pale brown mixed with white. On the forewings, the costa slightly is arched, the apex rounded, the termen straight. They are oblique and bronzy-brown mixed with blackish. There is a patch of white scales at the base above the middle, a broad irregular band of white scales at about half and a small white spot on the costa beyond the middle giving rise to a very irregular line composed of violet and blue metallic scales mixed with white. This line is strongly excurved at the middle and is there preceded by a similar but short line in the disc. There is also a broad white subterminal band of white scales, followed on the median portion by a line of metallic scales. A terminal line of white scales is more or less interrupted at the middle. The hindwings are pale bronzy-brown. Here, there is a straight white fascia running from the termen before tornus directed towards two-thirds of the costa, and reaching half-way across the wing.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.

Images for kids

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  Mount Arthur, type locality of A. albifasciata.

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  Larval host Celmisia brevifolia.