Scoparia caliginosa explained

Scoparia caliginosa is a species of moth in the family Crambidae.^[1] It is endemic to New Zealand.^[2]

Taxonomy

This species was described by Alfred Philpott in 1918.^{[3] [4]} However the placement of this species within the genus Scoparia is in doubt. As a result, this species has also been referred to as Scoparia (s.l.) caliginosa.

Description

The wingspan is about 17mm. The forewings are ferruginous brown, sprinkled with whitish on the basal three-fourths. There is a short brown fascia from the costa at the base and the first line is paler and margined with ferruginous brown posteriorly. The second line is whitish, margined with ferruginous brown anteriorly. The hindwings are fuscous grey, but darker terminally.

Notes and References

1. Book: New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume Two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. Canterbury University Press. 2010. 9781877257933. Gordon. Dennis P.. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.. 458. 973607714.
2. Web site: Scoparia caliginosa Philpott, 1918. New Zealand Organisms Register . Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd . 30 January 2018.
3. Philpott. A.. 1918 . Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera . Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute . 50. 125–132. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
4. Dugdale. J. S. . Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 1988. 14. 160. 30 January 2018.