Wiseana is a genus of ghost moths, collectively known as porina, of the family Hepialidae. There are seven described species, all endemic to New Zealand.Grehan, J.R.; Mielke, C.G.C.; Turner, J.R.G.; Nielsen, S.E. (2023). "A revised world catalogue of ghost moths (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), with taxonomic and biological annotations". ZooNova. 27: 1–313. Some species of this genus are a major pest in New Zealand exotic pastures. It is impossible to distinguish species at the larval/caterpillar stage without DNA technology, however adult porina moth species can be visually distinguished.
The genus was first identified by Pierre Viette in 1961, who recognised a distinction between the New Zealand members of the genus Oxycanus and those occurring in Australia and New Guinea.
Species Wiseana cervinata Recorded food plants: Trifolium, various grasses. Wiseana copularis Wiseana fuliginea Wiseana jocosa Larva feeds on grasses Wiseana mimica Wiseana signata Larva feeds on grasses Wiseana umbraculata Larva feeds on grasses
References
External links Hepialidae genera