Ochetarcha
Monotypic genus of tortrix moths
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ochetarcha is a genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Tortricinae of the family Tortricidae.[1] It contains only one described species, Ochetarcha miraculosa, also known as the ponga stem borer, which is found in New Zealand.
| Ochetarcha | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ochetarcha sp. (undescribed) illustration by Des Helmore | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Tribe: | Archipini |
| Genus: | Ochetarcha Meyrick, 1924 |
| Species: | O. miraculosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Ochetarcha miraculosa (Meyrick, 1917) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
The mature larva of this species is coloured a creamish-yellow and is between 15 and 20 mm long.[2]
The wingspan is about 23 mm. The forewings pale-brownish, strigulated with purplish-grey. The extreme costal edge is whitish-ochreous and there is some purplish suffusion towards the base of the costa. The hindwings are dark grey.[3]
Behaviour
The larva of this species create a sticky cone formed from its waste on the stems of its host plant.[2] The larvae consume the fronds of its host toward the tip of stem and make tunnels of between 8 and 10 mm long.[2] When at rest the adult moth holds its wings at a v-shaped angle.[2] The adult moths are on the wing from December to March.[2]
Hosts
The larval host of this species Cyathea dealbata.[2]
