Glaucocharis lepidella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae.[1] It was described by Francis Walker in 1866. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Island. The species inhabits lowland to subalpine native forest. Larvae may feed on mosses. Adults are on the wing from November to February and are attracted to light.
This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1866 using a specimen collected by T. R. Oxley in Nelson and named Eromene lepidella.[2] [3] In 1875 Cajetan von Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer, thinking they were describing a new species, named it Crambus gracilis.[4] In 1882 Edward Meyrick placed this species in the genus Diptychophora.[5] In 1883 Meyrick gave a more detailed description of the specie and synonymised Crambus gracilis into D. lepidella.[6] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under this name in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[7] In 1929 Alfred Philpott described the genitalia of the male of this species. In 1971 David E. Gaskin placed this species in the genus Pareromene.[8] In 1985 Gaskin again discussed this species and placed it in the genus Glaucocharis. The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.
Meyrick described this species as follows:
Hudson stated that this species shows considerable variation in the shape and extent of the cloudy patches on its forewings but that the white crescent shaped discal spot is distinctive. Meyrick stated that the discal spot is similar to that found in G. leucoxantha but that G. lepidella could be distinguished from this species as G. lepidella has a duller ground colour and grey hindwings. Meyrick also pointed out that the discal spot helps distinguish G. lepidella from G. auriscriptella as does the larger size of G. lepidella in comparison to that species.
Robert Hoare has stated that
G. lepidella is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the North and South Islands.[9] [10]
This species inhabits lowland to subalpine native forest. Hudson stated that he came across the species amongst low growing bushes including hebes. It has been hypothesised that the larvae of this species feed on moss.
Adults are on the wing from November to February. The adult moths are attracted to light.