Protithona fugitivana

Protithona fugitivana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.^[2]

Protithona fugitivana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Tortricidae
Genus:	Protithona
Species:	P. fugitivana
Binomial name
Protithona fugitivana Meyrick, 1883[1]
Synonyms[2]
Eurythecta varia Philpott, 1916

Illustration by George Hudson c. 1927

The wingspan is 9–10 mm for males and 10–12 mm for females. The forewings are dull to bright ochreous, mixed with dark fuscous. There is a white or pale-ochreous streak from the base to one third of the wing, margined beneath by a dark-fuscous blotch. The forewings of the females are almost wholly suffused with greyish fuscous. The hindwings are greyish fuscous.^[3]

Habitat and host species

The larvae of this moth is semi-aquatic and can be found in and around seepages or on surface detritus near moist areas.^[4] The larvae pupates in turf.^[4] The larvae feed on Potamogeton species.^[5]