Glaucocharis epiphaea

Glaucocharis epiphaea is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1885. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. G. epiphaea prefers mountainous habitat and frequents very damp spots including alpine and subalpine moss bogs. Larvae feed on the moss Dawsonia superba. Adults are on the wing from September until March and are diurnal.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass in January and named Diptychophora epiphaea. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1929 Alfred Philpott studied the male genitalia of this species. In 1971 David Gaskin placed this species in the genus Pareromene. 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.

Description

Meyrick described this species as follows:
Meyrick stated that G. epiphaea can be distinguished from the similar in appearance species G. bipunctella as G. epiphaea has less distinct markings and no white discal spot.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands.

Habitat and hosts

This species prefers mountainous habitat and can be found near or just above the upper limit of native forest and frequents very damp spots. It has been observed at the North Island central plateau and also in South island alpine and subalpine moss bogs. Larvae of G. epiphaea feed on the moss Dawsonia superba. As D. superba does not occur above the tree line in the mountains it has been hypothesised that the larvae of G. epiphaea does not exclusively feed on D. superba but has other hosts. Larvae have also been raised to maturity using Polytrichadelphus magellanicus as a supplementary food source.

Behaviour

Larvae feed from silk refuge tunnels covered in leaf fragments and frass. The adult moths are day flying and are on the wing from September until March.