About Persectania aversa Walker, 1856
The scientific name of this species is Persectania aversa Walker, 1856. Walker's original description of the species reads as follows: it is pale fawn in colour; the thorax has brown bands across its front section; forewings feature a white discal line bordered by brown, and brown exterior streaks bordered by white; hind wings are pale, with broad brownish borders. The description was produced from an injured specimen. The body length of the specimen measured 6 lines, and the wing length measured 14 lines. Adult individuals of this species have a wingspan of 1 and 1/2 inches. P. aversa is endemic to New Zealand, and can be found across the entire country, including Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands. It is generally classified as common to abundant, though it occurs in lower numbers in the northern part of the North Island. This species lives in open grassland habitats, including pasture. Recorded larval host plants for P. aversa are Ammophila arenaria, Avena sativa, Festuca novae-zelandiae, Hordeum vulgare, Nassella trichotoma, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa cita, Poa colensoi, and Triticum aestivum.
