''Scythris niphozela'' is a species of moth in the family Scythrididae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the

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Taxonomy

This species was originally described by Edward Meyrick in 1931 using specimens collected by

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at Birding's Flat in December. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1939 publication ''A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.'' The holotype specimen is held at the Canterbury Museum.

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. Other than the type locality of Birdings Flat at

Kaitorete Spit Kaitorete Spit is a long finger of land which extends along the coast of Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs west from Banks Peninsula for 25 kilometres, and separates the shallow Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora from the Pacific O ...

, this species has been recorded as being found at Long Valley Ridge in the Manorburn Ecological District,

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in February. However ''S. niphozela'' is regarded as being endemic to the Kaitorete Spit area.

Biology and life history

This species is on the wing in October to December.

Host species and habitat

Larvae of this species has been found on '' Carmichaelia appressa'', an endemic species of plant at the Kaitorete Spit. The moth inhabits the foredune area of this land formation and is regarded as being endemic to the gravel barrier present there.

References

niphozela Moths described in 1931 Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Endangered biota of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand {{Scythrididae-stub