{{Short description|Species of moth endemic to New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}} {{Speciesbox | image = Microdes epicryptis female.jpg | image_caption = Female | image2 = Microdes epicryptis male.jpg | image2_caption = Male | taxon = Microdes epicryptis | authority = Meyrick, 1897<ref name="BiotaNZ">{{Cite web |date=23 December 2015 |title=Microdes epicryptis Meyrick, 1897 |url=https://biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz/scientific-names/efb99941-56c0-4a1d-9d47-9fdaeee387b8 |access-date=22 May 2025 |website=Biota of New Zealand}}</ref> }}
'''''Microdes epicryptis''''' is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on the North, South, Stewart, Chatham and Antipodes Islands. It inhabits lowland wetlands. Larvae feed on species in the Juncaceae family and a specific larval host is ''Apodasmia similis''. Adults are on the wing from September to March. They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.
== Taxonomy == This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1897 using two specimens collected in Wellington by George Hudson.<ref name="Meyrick1897">{{CiteQ|Q56158835|pages=384-385}} {{BHL page|14683285}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> In 1927 Alfred Philpott discussed the male genitalia of this species.<ref>{{CiteQ|Q134538099 }}</ref> George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication ''The butterflies and moths of New Zealand''.<ref name="Hudson1928">{{CiteQ|Q58593286|pages=88}} {{BHL page|61899699}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> In 1939 Hudson also discussed this species in the supplement to that work.<ref name="Hudson1939">{{CiteQ|Q109420935|pages=402}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> In 1971 John S. Dugdale discussed and redescribed this species.<ref name="Dugdale1971">{{CiteQ|Q64006453|pages=104-105}}</ref> The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.<ref name="Dugdale1988">{{CiteQ|Q45083134|pages=184}}</ref>
== Description == [[File:Microdes epicryptis - Carey Knox Southern Scales - 461266125.jpeg|thumb|''Microdes epicryptis'' observed in Ngāruawāhia.]] The larvae of this species has been described as being approximately {{frac|1|2}} an inch in length when fully grown and is pale ochreous in colour, with a series of dark brown V-shaped markings along its back.<ref name="Hudson1939" /> The larvae are said to be challenging to see when resting on the flower spike of its host plants as both the colouration and markings of the larvae of this species provide excellent camouflage.<ref name="Hudson1939" />
Meyrick described the adults of this species as follows: {{Blockquote| ♂ ♀ 21-22 mm. Head and thorax whitish-ochreous. Palpi 6, whitish-ochreous sprinkled with dark fuscous. Forewings with costa strongly arched, termen unevenly bowed, very oblique ; whitish-ochreous, more whitish on dorsal half, somewhat deeper and sometimes infuscated towards costa, with some scattered black scales ; a median longitudinal streak of clear pale ground-colour ; second line indicated by a strongly curved series of black dots on veins: cilia ochreous-whitish. Hindwings considerably narrowed ; ochreous-grey-whitish; in ♂ with area of cell depressed, and a costal streak of modified blackish scales from near base to beyond middle.<ref name="Meyrick1897" />}}
''M. epicryptis'' has been confused with ''Antiscopa elaphra'' known as ''Scoparia elaphra''.<ref name="Dugdale1988" /><ref name="Patrick1994" /> The species in the Antipodes Islands is smaller and has forewings that are narrower and pointier than mainland specimens.<ref name="Patrick1994" />
== Distribution == This species is endemic to New Zealand.<ref name="BiotaNZ" /> This species if found in the North, South, Stewart, Chatham and the Antipodes Islands.<ref name="Hudson1928" /><ref name="Patrick1994">{{CiteQ|Q54583729|pages=102}}</ref>
== Habitat and hosts == thumb|Larval host ''A. similis''. ''M. epicryptis'' inhabits lowland wetlands.<ref name="Patrick1994" /> Larvae feed on species in the Juncaceae family and a specific larval host is ''Apodasmia similis'' as specimens of this moth have been reared from this plant.<ref name="Patrick1994" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Microdes epicryptis |url=https://plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz/ReportForm.aspx?RecordId=1555&Type=H&ReportType=Adv&SortBy=Alpha&Biostatus=a,c,e,n |access-date=22 May 2025 |website=Plant-SyNZ}}</ref>
==Behaviour== The adults of the species are on the wing from September to March.<ref name="Hudson1928" /> They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.<ref name="Patrick1994" /><ref name="Hudson1928" />
==References== {{Commons}} {{Wikispecies}} {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q13559849}}
Category:Moths described in 1897 Category:Eupitheciini Category:Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Category:Endemic moths of New Zealand