Scythris epistrota

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1889 and named Butalis epistrota.{{Cite Q|Q56065895|pages=161}}{{Cite Q|Q45083134|pages=110}} Meyrick used specimens collected on the Port Hills in Christchurch and at Mount Arthur in January when first describing this species. In 1928 George Hudson discussed this species in his book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. However John S. Dugdale pointed out that both the description and illustration given in that book by Hudson related to an undescribed species from Mount Arthur. In 1930, thinking he was describing a new species, Alfred Philpott named this species Elachista laucstris.{{Cite Q|Q117474618}} Meyrick synonymised this name with S. epistrota in 1931.{{Cite Q|Q117474623}} Hudson confirmed this synonymy in 1939.{{Cite Q|Q109420935|pages=459}} The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

File:LEPI Scythrididae Scythris epistrota.png

Meyrick described this species as follows:

{{Blockquote|♂ ♀. 10–11mm. Head, palpi, antennae, thorax, abdomen, and legs rather dark grey, slightly bronzy-tinged, generally somewhat sprinkled with whitish; antennal ciliations ½; abdomen in female whitish beneath. Forewings lanceolate; rather dark bronzy-grey, more or less densely strewn with whitish scales; in paler specimens there are indications of two very ill-defined inwardly oblique darker streaks on anterior half, more distinctly spotted with darker on fold, and two less perceptible outwardly oblique streaks on posterior half; an obscure round dark fuscous dot in disc at ¾: cilia pale bronzy-grey. Hindwings ⅔ grey; cilia 2, pale bronzy-grey.}}

This species is endemic to New Zealand.{{Cite web |title=Scythris epistrota (Meyrick, 1889) |url=https://www.nzor.org.nz/names/99484b94-c612-4d25-a7cd-b3c98fbee581 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.nzor.org.nz}} Other than the type locality of the Port Hills near Christchurch, this species has been observed in Kaikōura, near Lake Pukaki, in Twizel, and in Queenstown.{{Cite Q|Q63958657}}

The larvae emerge from their eggs during October to December.{{Cite Q|Q105343576}} The larvae pupate in an irregularly shaped, dense, silken cocoon. The adults of this species are day flying and are on the wing from November until February.{{Cite Q|Q57483707}}{{Cite web |title=Scythris epistrota (Meyrick, 1889) |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/1841654 |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=www.gbif.org |language=en}} This species has been collected via hand collecting and Malaise trapping.{{cite report |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/conservation/land-and-freshwater/freshwater/prr/tasman-river-invertebrate-study.pdf |title=Invertebrates of the Tasman River Plain: Characteristics of the invertebrate community and an analysis of sampling methods for biodiversity assessment |author=Tara J. Murray |date=15 September 2019 |publisher=Department of Conservation |location=New Zealand |page=58 |pages= |access-date=9 April 2023 }}

File:Carmichaelia arborea 176550926.jpg

This species inhabits open grass country and shrubland.{{Cite Q|Q58593286|pages=320}} Hudson stated in his book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand that the larvae of S. epistrota on species of Carmichaelia at Clarence Bridge, near Kaikoura, in November. This larval host was confirmed by Brian Patrick in 1994.{{Cite Q|Q110426707}}

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Category:Scythrididae

Category:Moths described in 1889

Category:Moths of New Zealand

Category:Endemic fauna of New Zealand

Category:Taxa named by Edward Meyrick

Category:Endemic moths of New Zealand