Hierodoris illita
Hierodoris illita is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. However this species has not been recorded at Stewart Island / Rakiura. The larvae feed on the inside of woody stems of "Coriaria arborea". Specimens have also been reared from galls both on a stem of "Muehlenbeckia australis" and on a stem of "Nothofagus truncata." Specimens have also been reared from the cones of the exotic species "Larix decidua" The larvae normally pupate within the stem of their host plant. The wingspan of adults  of this species is between 20 and 30 mm with the forewings being blackish, variably overlain with reddish and whitish scales. The hindwings of the common form are blackish with orange streaks. However "H. illlita" is variable in appearance with some specimens having a rich reddish brown forewings without markings and a form exists that has whitish hindwing markings in thin stripes from the base of the hindwing. Adults of this species are on the wing from November until February. This species is known to fly during the day and have been observed flying over tall bushes and trees, including  Coriaria ruscifolia and "Kunzea ericoides," during hot, sunny days. Taxonomy. This species was described by Cajetan von Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875 and named "Atychia illita". In 1888 Edward Meyrick placed this species within the genus "Heliostibes". George Hudson also discussed this species using that name in his 1928 book "The butterflies and moths of New Zealand". In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus "Hierodoris". Robert Hoare confirmed this placement in 2005. In 2005 Hoare also synonymised "H. cholorobela" with "H. illita". Hoare did so as he argued that the difference in the third  segment of the labial palp, as noted by Hudson when discussing "H. cholorobela", are found in specimens previously placed in both "H. cholorobela" and "H. illita". Also the genitalia in "H. cholorobela" specimens are identical to those in specimens of "H. illita" from the South Island. The male holotype specimen of "H. illita", collected by T. R. Oxley in Nelson, is held at the Natural History Museum, London. Description. Hoare described the larvae of this species as follows: Hudson described the species as follows: The wingspan is 20–30 mm with the forewings being blackish, variably overlain with reddish and whitish  scales. The hindwings of the common form are blackish with orange streaks. This species is variable in appearance with some specimens having a rich reddish brown forewings without markings. There is a form with hindwing markings that are whitish in thin stripes from the base of the hindwing. It is possible to confuse "H. illita" with "H. atychioides" where specimens of the former species have very dark hindwings. This species can be distinguished from "H. bilineata" as it has a larger wingspan. As this species has a labial palp that is unmodified and no metallic coloured scales on its forewings , it can also be distinguished from "H. huia". "H. illita" can be distinguished from "H. stella" as "H. illita" has unmodified antennae and is a larger moth. Distribution. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North and South Islands. This species has not been recorded at Stewart Island / Rakiura. Behaviour. Adults of this species are on the wing from November until February. This species is known to fly during the day and have been observed flying over tall bushes and trees, including "Coriaria ruscifolia" and "Kunzea ericoides," during hot, sunny days. Habitat and hosts. The  larvae feed on "Coriaria arborea". They feed inside a woody stem or branch of their host plant. Specimens have also been reared from galls both on a stem of "Muehlenbeckia australis" and on a stem of "Nothofagus truncata." Specimens have also been reared from cones of the exotic species "Larix decidua." The larvae pupate within the stem of the plant.