About Xanthorhoe occulta Philpott, 1903
Xanthorhoe occulta was first described by Philpott in 1903, who provided the following description for the adult male of the species. Males measure 28 mm. The head and thorax are dull yellowish-brown. The legs and abdomen are paler in color than the head and thorax. Male antennae are shortly bipectinated. The forewings are dull yellowish-brown, and sometimes have a reddish tinge that is more pronounced near the wing base. There is a white dot with a black margin on its posterior side, located on vein 1 at the 1/3 position of the wing. A similar dot is located near the origin of vein 2. A chain of similar dots, each with a black margin on its anterior side, extends from the 3/4 position of the costa to the 3/4 position of the dorsum. The forewing cilia are reddish-brown. The hindwings are very pale whitish-yellow, and their cilia match this color. Females of this species have reduced wing size. This species has been observed on the North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island of New Zealand. Recorded South Island locations include the Tararua Range, Mount Arthur, Arthur's Pass, Otira, Dunedin, and Invercargill. In the North Island and northern regions of the South Island, this species inhabits sub-alpine forest glades. In the southern regions of the South Island and on Stewart Island, it can be found in lowland habitats.
