Pyrgotis humilis is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Otago. Adults are on the wing in November and December. Larvae have been raised on Veronica odata.
Taxonomy This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1930 from a specimen collected by Charles Edwin Clarke on Mount Maungatua in Otago. George Hudson discussed this species in his 1939 book A supplement to the Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. In 1971 and again in 1988 John S. Dugdale confirmed the placement of this species in the genus Pyrgotis.
In 1988 Dugdale hypothesised that P. humilis and P. consentiens could be the same species as they each have the same host plant and the genitalia of each species is very similar.
Description Philpott described this species as follows Philpott stated that this species was similar in appearance to Maoritenes modesta but that P. humilis could be distinguished based on its antennal characteristics.
Distribution This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Otago.
Behaviour Adults have been recorded on the wing in November and December.
Host species
The larvae of this species have been raised on Veronica odata.
References