Wing pattern variation and DNA barcodes defy taxonomic splitting in the New Zealand Pimelea Looper Notoreas perornata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae): the importance of populations as conservation units.

The endemic Notoreas perornata (Walker, 1863) complex (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae) from the North Island and northern South Island of New Zealand is reviewed. Larvae feed on Pimelea spp. (Thymelaeaceae), frequently in highly fragmented and threatened shrubland habitats. Allopatric populations tend to differ in size and wing pattern characteristics, but not in genitalia; moreover extensive variation renders recognition of subspecies / allopatric species based on any species concept problematic. A mitochondrial DNA gene tree is not congruent with morphology and indicates rapid recent divergence that has not settled into diagnosable lineages. Based on our results, we synonymise Notoreas simplex Hudson, 1898 with N. perornata (Walker, 1863), and retain N. perornata as a single, highly diverse but monotypic species. All known populations are illustrated to display variation. For conservation purposes, we recommend the continued recognition within the species of 10 populations or groups of populations that appear to be on the way to diverging at subspecific level based on morphological and/or DNA data. The conservation status of all these populations is reviewed. One conservation unit, comprising the populations from Westland, has not been seen since 1998 and is feared possibly extinct.

A new leaf-mining moth from New Zealand, Sabulopteryxbotanica sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Gracillariinae), feeding on the rare endemic shrub Teucriumparvifolium (Lamiaceae), with a revised checklist of New Zealand Gracillariidae.

Sabulopteryxbotanica Hoare & Patrick, sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Gracillariinae) is described as a new species from New Zealand. It is regarded as endemic, and represents the first record of its genus from the southern hemisphere. Though diverging in some morphological features from previously described species, it is placed in genus Sabulopteryx Triberti, based on wing venation, abdominal characters, male and female genitalia and hostplant choice; this placement is supported by phylogenetic analysis based on the COI mitochondrial gene. The life history is described: the larva is an underside leaf-miner on the endemic divaricating shrub Teucriumparvifolium (Lamiaceae), and exits the mine to pupate in a cocoon in a folded leaf of the host plant. The remarkable history of the discovery and rediscovery of this moth is discussed: for many years it was only known from a single sap-feeding larva found in a leaf-mine in a pressed herbarium specimen of the host. The adult was discovered by BHP in Christchurch Botanic Gardens in 2013. Most distribution records of the moth come from a recent search for mines and cocoons on herbarium specimens of T.parvifolium. Sabulopteryxbotanica has high conservation status, and is regarded as 'Nationally Vulnerable' according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation threat classification system, based on the rarity and declining status of its host plant. However, the presence of apparently thriving populations of S.botanica on cultivated plants of T.parvifolium, especially at the type locality, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, suggests that encouraging cultivation of the plant could greatly improve the conservation status of the moth. A revised checklist of New Zealand Gracillariidae is presented, assigning all species to the currently recognised subfamilies. The Australian Macarostolaida (Meyrick, 1880) is newly recorded from New Zealand (Auckland), where it is established on Eucalyptus.