Orthenches prasinodes
Orthenches prasinodes is a moth of the family Plutellidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands in the Wellington, Canterbury and Southland regions. It inhabits native forest. The larval host are species in the genus Muehlenbeckia and larvae have been raised on Muehlenbeckia complexia. Adults are on the wing from December until March.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 using a specimen collected in March at Riccarton Bush in Christchurch. Meyrick gave a more detailed description in 1886. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Hudson went on to give a description and illustration of the larva of this species in 1939. Dugdale considered this species when describing the genus Chrysorthenches. The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.Description
Hudson described the larvae of this species as follows:Meyrick described the adult male of this species as follows:
Hudson described the adults of this species as follows:
Dugdale was of the opinion that externally the adults of this species are identical to O. vinitincta.