Mnesarchaeoidea is a superfamily of "New Zealand primitive moths" containing one family, Mnesarchaeidae and a single genus, Mnesarchaea, endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy and systematics

Mnesarchaeoidea constitutes the living sister taxon to the superfamily Hepialoidea.

Morphology and identification

The mouthparts of the adult moths are functional, unlike Hepialoidea. About seven species are not yet described, and the group is under revision by Gibbs et al. (see also Gibbs, 1979; Dugdale, 1988).

Biology and behaviour

The moths are mostly day-flying. The larvae live in silken galleries among liverworts and soil detritus. See Kristensen (1999: 57-59) for more details.

Species

Mnesarchaea acuta Philpott, 1929
Mnesarchaea fallax Philpott, 1927
Mnesarchaea fusca Philpott, 1922
Mnesarchaea fusilella Walker, 1864 (originally in Tinea)
Mnesarchaea loxoscia Meyrick, 1888
Mnesarchaea hamadelpha Meyrick, 1888
= Mnesarchaea similis Philpott, 1924
Mnesarchaea paracosma Meyrick, 1885
^ Meyrick, E. 1885: Descriptions of New Zealand microlepidoptera. Gelechiadae VIII. Tineina (part). New Zealand journal of science (Dunedin), 2(12): 589-592. BHL [Original reference for ' M[nesarchaea]. paracosma n.sp. ']
Sources

Common Name Index