Harmologa sanguinea is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1915. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island including Fiordland, Southland and Otago. Larvae feed on species of Veronica and adults are on the wing in November to March.
Taxonomy This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1915 using specimens collected at using specimens collected at Cleughearn Peak in the Hunter Mountains at around 3000 ft. in January. George Hudson described and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. The male holotype is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.
Description
Philpott described this species as follows:
H. sanguinea can be distinguished from similar looking moths as result of differences in tornal and subterminal fasciae.
Distribution This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Fiordland. It has also been observed at the Eyre Ecological District in Southland, as well as on Maungatua and Flat Top Mountain in the Otago Region.
Habitat and hosts
This species inhabits subalpine habitat. The larval plant host of this moth are species in the genus Veronica.
Behaviour Adults are on the wing from November to March and have been observed flying amongst Veronica and Cassinia plants.
References