''Tasmantrix nigrocornis'' is a
moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...
of the family
Micropterigidae
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...
. It is known from eastern
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, in coastal rainforests of southern
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
from Mount Keira to Mount Dromedary.
Micropterigidae (Lepidoptera) of the Southwestern Pacific: a revision with the establishment of five new genera from Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand
/ref>
The forewing length is 3.4 mm for males. The forewing ground colour has a strong purple iridescence. There are two shining white fasciae in the basal half with scattered indistinct white streaks apically. The first is a basal costal streak from the middle of the wing to about one quarter, it is extremity tapered to the anal side and proximally contiguous with the white dorsum of the head when at rest. The second is a strong transverse band, of more or less constant width, at mid length. There are irregular patches and lines of white scales in the apical quarter, especially between veins along the costa and the termen and along veins within the vicinity of the radial and medial vein forks. The fringes are black and white tipped. The hindwing is uniformly dark grey with bronzy iridescence. The fringes are dark grey.
Etymology
The species name is derived from the Latin ''niger''- (meaning black) and -''cornis'' (meaning horned) with reference to the striking black antennae of this species.
References
Micropterigidae
Moths described in 2010
{{Micropterigidae-stub