Glyphipterix achlyoessa

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1880 and named Phryganostola achlyoessa.[4][2] Meyrick used material he collected at the Wellington Botanic Garden at dusk in January.[2][4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Glyphipterix achlyoessa in 1928.[5]

The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Head and thorax whitish-grey. Palpi whitish-grey, mixed with dark fuscous, second joint beneath with a long loose prejecting fringe of hairs. Antennae dark fuscous. Abdomen elongate, dark fuscous. Legs pale ochreous-grey. Fore-wings elongate, narrow, hind-margin strongly sinuate below apex; pale whitish-grey, faintly strigulated transversely with darker; a few solitary black scales, tending to be arranged longitudinally on fold and lower median vein ; cilia whitish, with an obscure dark fuscous apical hook, basal f separated by a blackish line and dark smoky-grey. Hind-wings and cilia fuscous-grey.[4]

This moth is endemic to New Zealand and found throughout the country.[5][6] It is regarded as being common.[5]

This species is on the wing from October to December.[7] When disturbed it is likely to fly a short distance before landing on a grass stem.[5]

This species prefers to inhabit meadows and grassy open spaces.[5] It appears to prefer introduced grass species.[5] A host plant for this species is Dactylis glomerata.[8][9] Larvae have also been found boring into Juncus species.[7]