Helastia cinerearia

This species was described by Edward Doubleday as follows:

Anterior wings acuminate, very slightly falcate, pale brownish-ash, with numerous fuscous strigae, mostly very slender, but occasionally uniting to form transverse bands, of which one, not very distinct, is situated near the base, another a little before, and a third a little beyond the middle, these two being very distinct near the costa, but almost obliterated near the inner margin. Near the outer margin, which is rather darker than the ground-colour of the wing, is a slender much-waved whitish striga, and near the middle of the costa is a minute white dot. Posterior ashy-white, rather shining, with numerous indistinct fuscous strigae. Antennae of the male emitting from their lower surface two stout pectinations of unequal length, closely approximating at their origin, clothed with a delicate silky pubescence ; at the base and apex these pectinations are very short. Palpi rather long.H. cinerearia is often confused with H. alba, H. christinae, H. mutabilis, and H. semisignata.

H. cinerearia is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in the North, South and Stewart Islands and has also been observed on the Mercury Islands and Chatham Islands.

Adult moths are on the wing all year but are most commonly observed from September until February. Adult moths of H. cinerearia fly during dusk and at the evening and can be taken at light, sugar and at blossoms. Adult moths have been observed feeding from and likely pollinating Hebe salicifolia, Hoheria lyallii and Leptospermum scoparium. Adults have been observed resting on stones, or bare ground, and are very partial to the sides of road cuttings where the adults sometimes congregate in considerable numbers. Adult moths are also fond of resting on walls and fences.

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