Graphania tetrachroa
Graphania tetrachroa is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation. Taxonomy. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931 from a female specimen collected by George Hudson at Waimarino National Park on 6 January 1930 and named "Melanchra tetrachroa". Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his 1939 "Supplement to the Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand". In 1971 John S. Dugdale transferred species in the genus "Melanchra" to "Graphania". The holotype specimen is held at  the Natural History Museum, London. In 2017 it was explained that "Graphania tetrachroa" (Meyrick, 1931) may possibly be composed of two separate species. These are the described species "G. tetrachora," known only from the type specimen mentioned above, and a species, currently undescribed but known as "Graphania" cf. "tetrachroa", classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the New Zealand Threat Classification System. The reasoning given for this separation were the differences in wing pattern between the two entitles as well as the lack of variability in the known series of "G. cf. tetrachroa". It was also argued that both entities belong in  the genus "Meterana". It is possible that further taxonomic work may show that these two entities belong to the same species. In 2019 a paper published by Robert J. B. Hoare specifically addressed the genus placement of "Graphania tetrachroa," known only from the type specimen. Hoare, having dissected the holotype specimen and studying the female genitalia, placed that species within the genus "Meterana". The challenge of resolving the possible undescribed species currently known as "Graphania" cf. "tetrachroa" was left for a future date. Description. The larvae are brown-orange in colour and are mottled black or grey. Meyrick originally described  the adult female of the species as follows: Distribution. The species is endemic to New Zealand. It is known from Pureora and National Park down to Southland. Along with the type locality, this species has also been collected at Kaimanawa Forest Park near Lake Taupo. Biology and behaviour. The larvae of this species feed on the foliage of their host plants. The larvae pupate by February. The adults of this species are on the wing in January and February. The adult moths are nocturnal. This species has been collected using sugar and light trapping. Host species and habitat. The host  species for the larvae of this moth are "Olearia" species including "O. odorata", "O. hectorii" and "O. fimbriata". Conservation status. In 2017 this species was classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. In that document the species was treated as two separate entitles. "Graphania tetrachroa" (Meyrick, 1931) was classified as "Data Deficient" and "Graphania" cf. "tetrachroa" was classified as "Nationally vulnerable".