MICROPTERIGIDAE: Mandibulate Archaic Moths ⁵

Sabatinca doroxena (Meyrick, 1888). Endemic.

Habitat, seasonality and behaviour ⁵

Adults appear from the middle of October until January with a peak period from mid-October to mid December. They are found in damp sunny places in native forest. Adults often associated with the blossoms of flowering plants, i.e. Cordyline species or buttercups of the genus Ranunculus.

Life history ⁵

Larval habitat consists of the dense carpet of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) that smothers suitable substrates in damp semi-shaded forest environments. Host plant specificity is unknown.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Maurice, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Maurice
2. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Steer
3. George Vernon Hudson , no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig_27._Plate_XXXIX_Sabatinca_doroxena_(cropped).jpg
4. Creator:Edward Meyrick, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pl.1-02-Micropardalis_doroxena_Meyrick,_1888.JPG
5. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNaturalist NZ taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants

iNaturalist NZ Map