Aoraia enysii
| Aoraia enysii | |
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| Female specimen | |
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| Male specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hepialidae |
| Genus: | Aoraia |
| Species: | A. enysii |
| Binomial name | |
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Aoraia enysii (Butler, 1877) |
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Aoraia enysii, also known as the forest ghost moth is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This is the only species of the genus Aoraia that can be found in the North as well as the South Island. This species was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 from a specimen obtained in the North Island by J. D. Enys.
The wingspan is 60–74 mm for males and 78–110 mm for females. The forewing pattern is intricate and consists of varying shades of brown with ash-white markings, sometimes with subterminal patches of yellowish scales. The hindwings are yellowish-brown, fawn or smoky. Adults are on wing from February to May.
The larvae can be found in pit traps or in litter on the forest floor. They probably feed on fallen leaves.
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Wikipedia