Ecclitica hemiclista

Ecclitica hemiclista
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Tortricidae
Genus:	Ecclitica
Species:	E. hemiclista
Binomial name
Ecclitica hemiclista (Meyrick, 1905) [1]
Synonyms [2]
Dipterina hemiclistaMeyrick, 1905

Ecclitica hemiclista is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. ^[1] It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1905 and is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island. This species inhabits native forest and adults are on the wing from November until January. This moth is regarded as being rare.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick using a specimen collected in Wellington and was originally named Dipterina hemiclista. ^[3] In 1923 Meyrick placed this species in the genus Ecclitica. ^[4] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. ^[5] Also in 1928 Alfred Philpott studied and illustrated the male genitalia of this species. ^[6] The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. ^[2]

Description

Illustration of female.

Meyrick described this species as follows:

♂. 15 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax grey mixed with dark fuscous, palpi short, 1+1⁄2. Fore-wings elongate, considerably dilated posteriorly, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen obliquely rounded; rather dark slaty-grey, with irregular angulated dark fuscous striae, tending to break up into strigulae; edge of basal patch dark fuscous, right-angled in middle; an oblique dark fuscous blotch on costa before middle, another at 2⁄3, and a third apical: cilia grey mixed with dark fuscous. Hind-wings fuscous, darker posteriorly. ^[3]

Hudson stated E. hemiclista resembled Tortrix molybditis but that the former could be distinguished from the latter as a result of E. hemiclista's larger size and paler colouration.

Distribution

E. hemiclista is endemic to New Zealand. ^[1] It has been observed in the North Island. ^[7] Hudson regarded this moth as being rare. ^[5]

Habitat

This species inhabits native forest. ^[5]

Behaviour

Adults of this species are on the wing from November until January. ^{[8] [5]}

References

1. "Ecclitica hemiclista (Meyrick, 1905)". NZOR. 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
2. Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 121. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
3. Edward Meyrick (15 July 1905). "XII. Notes on New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 53 (2): 233. doi:10.1111/J.1365-2311.1905.TB02451.X. ISSN   0035-8894. Wikidata   Q54553180. BHL page 14788053 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
4. Edward Meyrick (1923). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 54: 164. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q63102493. BHL page 33596245 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
5. Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 242, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286 BHL page 61899853 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
6. Alfred Philpott (1928). "The male genitalia of the New Zealand Tortricidae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 59: 447, 458. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q133008549.
7. "Ecclitica hemiclista". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
8. Gaskin, D.E. (1964). "Notes on the species of Lepidoptera taken by light-trapping at Wellington between November, 1962, and November, 1963". Records of the Dominion Museum. 4 (22): 309. ISSN   0373-7233. Wikidata   Q124294997.