Helastia plumbea

This species was originally described by Philpott as follows:

♂ 18–20 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax grey mixed with black. Antennae fuscous, pectinations moderate. Abdomen grey, each segment bearing dorsally a pair of cuneate black marks. Forewings rather elongate, costa sinuate, moderately arched, apex subacute, termen almost straight, oblique; bluish-grey with some reddish-ochreous on veins and posterior to second line; lines formed of bluish-grey irregular paired striae; basal line obscure, curved; first line rather angulated at middle, margined anteriorly with white, angle marked with reddish-ochreous; a rather prominent spot of reddish-ochreous between basal and first lines at middle; a suffused reddish-ochreous discal spot; second line irregularly curved, its outer margin marked by a series of white points which are sometimes more or less connected by a thin white line; an obscure reddish-ochreous subterminal line; veins beyond second line marked with blackish interrupted by some white dots; an obscure black waved line round termen: cilia white, mixed with grey and with obscure darker bars. …

H. plumbea is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. In the North Island it is recorded in the Taupo region; in the South Island it is found in the Nelson, Buller, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Westland, Mackenzie, Dunedin, Central Otago, Otago Lakes and Fiordland areas.

Adults of this species have been observed on the wing from October to April. They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.

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