''Batrachedra litterata'' is a species of moth in the family

Batrachedridae The Batrachedridae are a small family of tiny moths. These are small, slender moths which rest with their wings wrapped tightly around their bodies. Taxonomy The taxonomy of this and related groups is often disputed. This group was first propos ...

. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the North and

South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

Islands. This species has been reared on the fern species '' Blechnum chambersii.'' Adults are on the wing in November and December.

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1928 by

Alfred Philpott Alfred Philpott (15 December 1870 – 24 July 1930) was a New Zealand museum curator, entomologist and writer. He was born in Tysoe, Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The ...

from specimens collected by Dr A. J. Turner in Greymouth in February. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species both in his 1939 book ''A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand''. The holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.

Description

Philpott described this species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. Along with its type locality of Greymouth, this species has also been collected in Claverley, in Canterbury as well as in the Waitākere Ranges.

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing in November and December.

Host

''B. litterata'' have been reared on the fern species '' Blechnum chambersii.''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4869561 Batrachedridae Moths of New Zealand Moths described in 1928 Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Alfred Philpott Endemic moths of New Zealand