Spheterista pernitida (Walsingham)

Austin, Kyhl A. & Rubinoff, Daniel, 2023, Rediscoveries and Presumed Extinctions of Hawaiian Leaf-roller Moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 55, pp. 11-27 : 17

Spheterista pernitida (Walsingham)

Presumed extinct

This species is known from a single female collected at Olaʻa on Hawaiʻi island in 1896 by Perkins ( Walsingham 1907). However, in the absence of males, it is difficult to determine whether it belongs to Spheterista or another genus. If Spheterista , it likely fed on leaves or fruit of Cheirodendron or Polyscias (Araliaceae) . The male mentioned by Walsingham (1907) as being “closely allied to pernitida ” is almost certainly not conspecific. The male genitalia closely resemble those of the Urticaceae-feeding “ Spheterista ” (“ S.” infaustana, “ S.” urerana).