Erechthias crypsimima
Erechthias crypsimima is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1920. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island. This species inhabits native forest and has been observed in Nothofagus fusca forest. The larvae likely feed on either deceased plant detritus or tough leaves of plants such as palms or flax. Adults are on the wing commonly from January to March. During the day, adults are known to rest on tree trunks where the moth's colouration helps provide protection by camouflaging the moth.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1920 using a specimen collected by George Hudson in Wellington in February and originally named Hectacma crypsimima. Hudson noted that he collected the type specimen of this species from the black trunk of a beech tree. Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1988 John S. Dugdale synonymised Hectacma with the genus Erechthias and thus since that date this species has been known as Erechthias crypsimima. The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.Description
Meyrick described this species as follows:Hudson pointed out that the colouration of this species provides protection by helping this species camouflage itself on the trunks of trees.