Sabatinca ianthina facts for kids

Sabatinca ianthina is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It was described by Alfred Philpott in 1921. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Adults were found on a rocky slope covered with various species of mosses and liverworts. They were resting on Gahnia species, although it seems it does not have any closer affinities to that plant.

Original description

Wingspan 9–10.5 millimetres (0.35–0.41 in). Head clothed with long bright ochreous hair. Antennae blackish, annulated with ochreous on basal half. Thorax ochreous mixed with black. Abdomen black, sparsely clothed with whitish-ochreous hair. Legs fuscous, tarsi annulated with ochreous. Forewings broadly lanceolate, apex less acute in; dark metallic violet; a band of pale lemon-yellow at base; a lemon-yellow band before 1/2, faintly excurved, and dilated slightly on dorsal half; a variable series of lemon-yellow dots on costa between median band and apex, and a similar series on dorsum, usually two in each case but sometimes four or five: cilia greyish-fuscous. Hindwings dark metallic violet, fuscous basally: cilia as in forewings.

Images for kids

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  S. ianthina illustrated by George Hudson