Samana acutata

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 using a specimen that was collected from Christchurch, in the South Island and was obtained from J. D. Enys.^[2][3] George Hudson discussed this species in his 1898 book New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera).^[4] He later discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.^[5][6] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[6]

Butler described the species as follows:

Primaries pale straw yellow; an oblique interno-basal litura, a dot at the end of the cell, and a discal transverse line terminating in an acute < -shaped angle, piceous; the discal line diffused externally; a marginal series of black dots; secondaries white, with the fringe creamy; a marginal series of black dots; thorax pale straw yellow, abdomen white : primaries below pale testaceous, whitish on internal area; markings (excepting the marginal dots, which are united by a slender brown line) only visible through the wing; secondaries white, the costal area tinted with testaceous, and sparsely irrorated with brown; a small black dot at the end of cell; a marginal series of black dots; fringe creamy : body below pale straw yellow. Expanse of wings 1 inch 2 lines.^[2]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^[1][7] S. acutata can be found in Mid Canterbury and Central Otago.^[3] It is now extinct at its type locality.^[3]

Larvae of this species have been found in January and in March.^[8][9] The adult is on the wing in September and October.^[10] Hudson stated this species is attracted to light.^[5]

The host species for this moth are the New Zealand native brooms in the genus Carmichaelia including Carmichaelia australis and Carmichaelia appressa.^[3][9][11] The species is known to inhabit dune ecosystems.^[12] It has also been found in habitat containing gorse and mānuka.^[5]

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Relict".^[13] This species is threatened as a result of change of habitat, in particular the loss of its host species due to farming and urban development.^[3] It is also at risk from weed invasion from plants such as sea spurge.^[12]