Lathicrossa prophetica is a species of moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits sub-alpine native forest and adults are on the wing in January. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.
♀ 16 mm. Head whitish with a few blackish scales. Palpi whitish sprinkled blackish, terminal joint with broad blackish band. Thorax pale pink mixed dark grey. Forewings somewhat dilated, apex obtuse-pointed, termen faintly sinuate, oblique; light rose-pink suffusedly mixed dark grey; a small black spot on base of costa, and one just beyond and beneath it; stigmata forming small black spots, plical obliquely beyond first discal and rather smaller, each of these followed by a white dot, second discal subquadrate; the pink groundcolour forms small distinct spots on costa at middle and ¾ between patches of dark suffusion: cilia grey mixed pinky-whitish, base rose-pink. Hindwings grey finely irrorated blackish-grey; cilia grey, basal third blackish-grey.[2]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[5] Other than the type locality, it has been collected at Karori in Wellington, Lake Rotoroa and at Karamea Bluffs on the West Coast.[1]
Biology and behaviour
The adults of this species is on the wing in January.[2]
Habitat
Mount Arthur, type locality of L. prophetica.
The holotype specimen was collected at approximately 1050m above sea-level.[4] This species frequents sub-alpine forest.[4]
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