Mnesarchella hamadelpha
Mnesarchella hamadelpha is a species of primitive moth in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the Wellington, Marlborough Sounds, Marlborough and Nelson regions. It is frequently found at altitudes of between 800 and 1400m but can be found as low as approximately 400 m. It is often found in damp moss covered but well lit native forest. This species is very similar in appearance to M. acuta. However although M. hamadelpha is present in the same locations as M. acuta, it is usually found at higher altitudes or at later times in the year. Adults are on the wing from November to February. Taxonomy This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 and named Mnesarchaea hamadelpha. Alfred Philpott, thinking he was describing a new species, named this species Mnesarchaea similis in 1924. In 1928 George Hudson synonymised this name with Mnesarchaea hamadelpha. In 2019 George William Gibbs reviewed the species within the family Mnesarchaeidae. During this review he placed within the genus Mnesarchella. The male lectotype specimen was collected at Mount Arthur in January by Meyrick and is held at the Natural History Museum, London. Description Meyrick described this species as