Philocryptica
Philocryptica is a monotypic genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Tortricinae of the family Tortricidae. It contains only one species, Philocryptica polypodii, the leather-leaf star-miner, which is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been recorded in both the North Island and the South Island, as far south as Banks Peninsula. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest where the species' larval host is present. The larvae feed on Pyrrosia eleagnifolia, mining the host plant leaves. P. polypodii pupates within the final blotch-mine. Adults are on the wing in November and December. Taxonomy The genus was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1923. The species was first described by Morris Watt in 1921 using a darkly marked species in the Wellington Botanic Gardens and named Harmologa polypodii. In 1923 Meyrick placed this species in the newly described genus Philocryptica. In 1924 Watt described the life history of this species in detail. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. The male lectotype collected in Wellington is held at the Te Papa. Description The genus was described by Edward Meyrick as follows: The larvae of P. polypodii were