This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1931 using specimens collected on Maungatua in December by C. E. Clarke.[2] The male holotype specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[3]
Description
Illustration of S. nigra.
Philpott described this species as follows:
♂. 12 mm. Head, palpi, abdomen and thorax dark purplish fuscous. Antennae purplish fuscous, ciliations in ♂ ½. Legs dark purplish fuscous, tarsi without annulations. Forewings with costa moderately arched, bent at ⅓, apex acute, termen extremely oblique; dark purplish fuscous sparsely sprinkled with white scales: fringes dark fuscous. Hindwings and fringes dark fuscous.[2]
This species can be distinguished from the similar appearing S. triatma as it has a much darker appearance and lacks the bluish-slate colour that can be seen on the fore-wings of S. triatma.[4]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the lower parts of the South Island.[5][4]
Behaviour
The adults of this species are day flying and on the wing in December.[4][6]
Habitat and hosts
Larval host plant Hebe odora.
S. nigra normally lives in alpine habitats however it can be also found at relatively low altitudes such as at Waitahuna Hill]] near Lake Mahinerangi.[7] The larvae of this species feed on Hebe odora.[8]
.jpg)
