Nymphostola Explained

Nymphostola is a monotypic moth genus in the family Oecophoridae or the family Depressariidae. The genus was erected by Edward Meyrick in 1883.^[1] Its only species, Nymphostola galactina, the tarata flat moth,^{[2] [3]} was described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875.^[4] It is endemic to New Zealand.^[5]

For both males and females, the wingspan is between 23 and 26 mm. The head, palpi, antennae, thorax, abdomen, and legs are snow white. The forewings are broad, the costa strongly arched, the apex obtuse, hindmargin straight, while not oblique; white, with a faint greenish or emerald tinge between the veins; all the veins are marked at regular intervals with faint minute dark grey dots. There is a more conspicuous dark grey dot in disc beyond the middle, and a very slender indistinct dark grey hindmarginal line: cilia white. The hindwings and cilia are white. Considered a very delicate and conspicuously distinct species.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Savela . Markku . 7 January 2014 . Nymphostola Meyrick, 1883 . Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms . January 16, 2021.
2. Web site: Moth, Tarata flat. 17 January 2021. Puke Ariki Museum Libraries.
3. Web site: Nymphostola galactina (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875). 15 January 2021. collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Te Papa Tongarewa.
4. Felder. Cajetan. Rogenhofer. Alois Friedrich. 1864–1867. Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara. Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. Von W. de. pt.9:Bd.2:Abt.2 (1864-1867) Atlas. Plate CHL fig 40. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
5. Web site: NZOR Name Details - Nymphostola galactina (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875). 17 January 2021. New Zealand Organisms Register.
6. Meyrick. E.. 1883. Descriptions of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. III. Oecophoridae. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16. 6. 15 January 2021.