Batrachedra eucola

Batrachedra eucola holotype

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1889.[2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[3] The holotype specimen of this species was collected near the Bealey River in North Canterbury.[4] This specimen is now held at the Natural History Museum, London.[4]

Batrachedra eucola illustrated by George Hudson

Meyrick described the species as follows:

♂︎. 19mm. Head and antennae whitish-ochreous. Palpi whitish-ochreous, terminal joint and apex of second more brownish, second joint with scales projecting in front into an angular tuft. Thorax pale brownish-ochreous. Abdomen whitish-ochreous. Legs dark fuscous, apex of joints whitish-ochreous. Forewings elongate, very narrow, parallel-sided, long-pointed ; veins 6 and 7 stalked ; whitish-ochreous, somewhat sprinkled with brownish-ochreous, towards costa broadly suffused with brownish-ochreous, costal edge fuscous towards base ; a dark fuscous dot in disc before middle, a second on fold obliquely before first, and a third, larger and somewhat transverse, in disc before 3⁄4 : cilia whitish-ochreous, beneath anal angle greyish-tinged, on costa marked with three dark fuscous dots, with indications of two dark fuscous lines at apex only. Hindwings with all veins present ; grey, slightly ochreous-tinged ; cilia light grey, slightly ochreous-tinged, on costa whitish-ochreous.[2]

B. eucola can be easily distinguished from its close relatives as it larger in size, has a pronounced palpi tuft and has full neuration of its hindwings.[2]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[5][1] Along with northern Canterbury, this species has also been collected at Whangarei,[6] National Park,[7] Wellington,[6] Aorere River near Nelson,[3] and Hope Arm, in Fiordland.[8]

This species is on the wing in January and February.[3] This species frequents scrubland habitat.[7][9]