Thectophila

This species was originally described by Edward Meyrick in 1927 using a female specimen collected by George Hudson at Arthur's Pass at approximately 1200 m. in February.^[1][2] Hudson discussed and illustrated the species under that name in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.^[3] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[1]

Meyrick described the species as follows:

♀ 14 mm. Head, thorax ochreous-whitish (rubbed). Palpi whitish. Forewings lanceolate, apex acutely produced, caudulate; ochreous-whitish; a fine dark grey line from disc at 4⁄5 to apex, terminating in a black apical dot: cilia ochreous-whitish, round apex short segments of blackish subbasal and grey postmedian lines. Hind-wings pale grey; cilia whitish.^[2]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^[4][5] It is only known from one locality, Arthur's Pass.^[6][7]

Very little is known of the biology of this species.^[7] The adult male is on the wing in February.^[3]

This species prefers habitat consisting of rough herbage in mountainous terrain.^[3] The habitat of the species is protected as it falls within the Arthur's Pass National Park.^[7] The host species of this moths larvae is unknown.^[7]

This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.^[6]