Tingena phegophylla
Tingena phegophylla is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. This species inhabits native beech forest. The adults of this species are on the wing in December.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883 using specimens collected at Lake Wakatipu in December and named Oecophora phegophylla. Meyrick went on to give a more detailed description in 1884. In 1915 Meyrick placed this species within the Borkhausenia genus. In 1926 Alfred Philpott was unable to study the genitalia of the male of this species as no specimens were held in New Zealand collections however Dugdale points out that the genitalia of basella agrees with the genitalia of the lectotype of T. phegophylla. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name B. phegophylla in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1988 Dugdale placed this species in the genus Tingena. The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.Description
Meyrick first described this species as follows:Meyrick's more detailed description is as follows:
The colouring of this species closely resembles a dead native beech leaf.