Aletia inconstans

This species was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1880 using material collected by W. Skellon in Blenheim and named Spaelotis inconstans.[2][3] George Hudson discussed this species in his 1898 book New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) as a synonym of Leucania griseipennis.[4] He again discussed as well as illustrated the species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand under the name Aletia inconstans.[5] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

The genus level classification of New Zealand endemic moths within the genus Aletia is regarded as unsatisfactory and is under revision.[6] It is likely that this species will be removed from the genus Aletia and be placed within one of the following genera: Physetica, Graphania, Tmetolophota or Ichneutica.[6] As such the species is currently also known as Aletia (s.l.) inconstans.[7]

Butler described the species as follows:

Primaries above greenish-grey, indistinctly speckled with black; the ordinary lines ill-defined, formed by series of pale hastate or lunate markings edged internally with black, and connected here and there ; the innermost line replaced by three oblique independent zigzag lines, the outermost of which is interrupted by the "orbicular" spot, the latter being bounded internally by the central of the three lines ; the discoidal spots large, whitish, separated from one another and from the post-median line by black-edged dusky intervening spots; a marginal series of black dots; fringe sordid white, traversed by two slightly undulated greyish-brown lines; secondaries shining fuliginous brown with faint pinky reflections and diffused dusky border; fringe sordid white with very indistinct grey intersecting line; thorax grey, abdomen greyish-brown ; under surface greyish-white, speckled with grey scales towards the costal margins and apices of the wings; the latter are also sericeous with blackish discocellular >-shaped markings and indistinct traces of two nearly parallel greyish discal lines ; primaries with the discoidal area slightly dusky; tarsi brown. Expanse of wings 1 inch 5 lines.[3]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][8] Other than the type locality of Blenheim, this species has been found near the Buller River in the Westcoast,[9] at Quail Island and Hinewai Reserve in Canterbury,[10] and near Coronet Peak,[11] at Tara Hills Research Station,[12] and at Ida Valley in Otago.[5] This species has also been located in the North Island at Mount Taranaki,[13] Waiouru and Wellington.[5]

This species is regarded as being rare.[5][13] It is on the wing from November to February.[5] This species is attracted to light and has been collected via light trapping.[12] It has also been collected through sugar trapping.[5]

A. inconstans prefers to inhabit open areas near forest or shrubland.[10]