Pyrgotis zygiana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. The larval host plant of this species is Prumnopitys taxifolia.
Taxonomy P. zygiana was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. In 1883 Meyrick provided a fuller description of the species. George Hudson discussed this species under the name Capua zygiana in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1971 John S. Dugdale confirmed the placement of this species in the genus Pyrgotis. The male holotype specimen, collected at Riccarton Bush by Meyrick, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.
Description
The wingspan is about 14 mm. The forewings are dark reddish ochreous fuscous, mixed with dark fuscous and strigulated (finely streaked) with leaden grey. The hindwings are grey.
Meyrick described this species as follows:
Distribution This species is endemic to New Zealand. As well as the type locality in Canterbury this species has also been recorded in Titirangi and in other locations throughout the North Island.
Host species The larvae feed exclusively on Prumnopitys taxifolia.
References