Holocola charopa

Holocola charopa is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the northern parts of the North Island. The larvae web together and feed on the new shoots of their host plant Kunzea ericoides. Adults are on the wing in July and from November until February.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888, using two specimens collected in Auckland and Whanganui in December, and was originally named Strepsicrates charopa. George Hudson discussed this species both in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand as well as in the 1939 book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, under the name Spilonota charopa. In 2010 the New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity listed this species as being placed in the genus Holocola. The lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Meyrick described this species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the northern parts of the North Island. This species is regarded as being relatively common in and around Auckland and has also been observed in Whangārei.

Behaviour

The larvae of this species web together and feed on the emerging shoots of their host plant. Adults have been recorded on the wing in July and from November until February.

Host species

The larval hosts of this moth are species within the plant genus Leptospermum. Larvae of this species have also been successfully raised on the plant species Kunzea ericoides.