''Dumbletonius characterifer'' is a species of
moth of the family
Hepialidae. It is
endemic to
New Zealand. It was first described by
Francis Walker in 1865.
The
wingspan is for males and for females. There is a complex ocellate pattern with bicoloured scales on the forewings. The hindwings are dark brown. Adults are on wing from November to April.
''D. characterifer'' is present in the Waikato, Taupo, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough and Marlborough Sounds, Buller and Westland regions.
The larvae feed on leaf litter. They built tunnels in the leaf litter from which they feed.
The northern most location this species has been observed at is
Mount Te Aroha
Te Aroha ( mi, Te Aroha-a-uta) is a rural town in the Waikato region of New Zealand with a population of 3,906 people in the 2013 census, an increase of 138 people since 2006. It is northeast of Hamilton and south of Thames. It sits at the f ...
.
This species has been known to be infected by ''
Cordyceps robertsii'', the vegetable caterpillar fungus.
References
Moths described in 1865
Hepialidae
Moths of New Zealand
Endemic fauna of New Zealand
Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist)
Endemic moths of New Zealand
{{Hepialidae-stub