''Scoparia harpalea'' is a
moth in the family
Crambidae.
It is
endemic to
New Zealand.
Taxonomy
This species was named by
Edward Meyrick in 1884 as ''Xeroscopa harpalea''. Meyrick gave a description of this species in 1885.
In 1913 Meyrick revised the genus of the species to ''Scoparia'', and in 1928
George Vernon Hudson
George Vernon Hudson FRSNZ (20 April 1867 – 5 April 1946) was a British-born New Zealand entomologist credited with proposing the modern daylight saving time. He was awarded the Hector Memorial Medal in 1923.
Biography
Born in London, Brit ...
agreed with this revision.
summarised this taxonomy in his 1988 publication but misspelt the
epithet
An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...
of this species as ''harpalaea''.
The wing patterns and male genitalia of
holotypes of this species and ''
Scoparia limatula'' have been examined and have been found to be identical.
Description
The
wingspan is about 24 mm. The forewings are white, irrorated with ochreous-grey. The veins are marked with blackish. The hindwings are very pale greyish-ochreous, the postmedian line and apex are grey. Adults have been recorded on wing in January.
References
Moths described in 1885
Moths of New Zealand
Scorparia
Endemic fauna of New Zealand
Taxa named by Edward Meyrick
Endemic moths of New Zealand
{{Scopariinae-stub