Lysiphragma epixyla

Lysiphragma epixyla is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. It inhabits dense native forest. The larvae feed under the bark of dead pukatea, tree fuchsias, kapuka, hinau and beech trees in the genus Nothofagus. Adults are commonly on the wing from November until January. Adults can commonly be found resting on trunks of trees.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 using specimens collected from Wellington, Lake Wakatipu and Invercargill in December and January. In 1927 Alfred Philpott discussed and illustrated the male genitalia of this species. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in both his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand and in the 1939 supplement to that volume. The lectotype specimen, collected in Wellington is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Hudson described the larvae and pupa of this species as follows:
Meyrick described the adults of this species as follows:
L. epixyla is coloured brown where as its sister species L. mixochlora is coloured green. Considerable variation exists in the depth and extent of the light and dark markings on the wings of this species.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It has been observed in both the North and South Islands.

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits dense native forest. The larvae feed under the bark of dead pukatea, tree fuchsias and kapuka trees. Larvae have also been observed feeding under the bark of dead hinau as well as under old wood of beech trees in the genus Nothofagus.

Behaviour

Adults are commonly on the wing from November to January. Meyrick notes that this moth can usually be found at rest on tree trunks.