Heterocrossa sanctimonea

Heterocrossa sanctimonea is a moth of the Carposinidae family first described by Charles E. Clarke in 1926. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the South Island at Arthur's Pass, in Fiordland and in Southland. Adults are on the wing in January and are nocturnal. They are attracted to light.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Charles Edwin Clarke in 1926 and originally named Carposina sanctimonea. When describing this species, Clarke used three specimens collected at Arthur's Pass in January 1923 at an altitude of. In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Heterocrossa. This placement was agreed with by Dr Robert J. B. Hoare in the New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. The male holotype specimen is held in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Description

Clarke described this species as follows:
This species can be distinguished from other species within its genus by its mostly white colouring and that it is larger in size.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. Other than the type locality of Arthur's Pass, this species has been observed around the Homer Tunnel in Fiordland and in Southland at the Longwood Range and in the Takitimu Mountains and Blue Mountains.

Behaviour

Adult species have been observed on the wing in January, are nocturnal and are attracted to light.