Sabatinca heighwayi is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It was described by Alfred Philpott in 1927 and is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It can be found north of Lewis Pass in the north west of the South Island. Adult moths are on the wing from late September until the middle of January. The host of the larvae of this species is the foliose liverwort Plagiochila circumcincta.
This species was described by Alfred Philpott in 1927 using two female specimens collected by Mr W. Heighway at the Leslie Valley, Mount Arthur Tableland in November, 1915.[2] The holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[3]
Philpott described the adults of the species as follows:
This moth is one of the larger New Zealand endemic species within the genus Sabatinca and has a forewing band pattern of light bands surrounded by dark bands.[4]
This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found north of Lewis Pass in the north west of the South Island.
Adult moths are on the wing from late September until the middle of January. This species is regarded as being very elusive.
The host of the larvae of this species is the foliose liverwort Plagiochila circumcincta.[5] S. heighwayi pupates during the winter months.