Wiseana

Wiseana is a genus of ghost moths, collectively known as porina,^[1] of the family Hepialidae. There are seven described species, all endemic to New Zealand.^[2] Some species of this genus are a major pest in New Zealand exotic pastures.^[1][3] It is impossible to distinguish species at the larval/caterpillar stage without DNA technology, however adult porina moth species can be visually distinguished.^[3]

Wiseana
Wiseana cervinata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Hepialidae
Genus:	Wiseana Viette, 1961
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Porina Walker, 1856 (nec d'Orbigny, 1852) Gorina Quail, 1899 Goryna Quail, 1899 Philpottia Viette, 1950

The genus was first identified by Pierre Viette in 1961, who recognised a distinction between the New Zealand members of the genus Oxycanus and those occurring in Australia and New Guinea.^[4]

Species

• Wiseana cervinata (Walker, 1865)

• Recorded food plants: Trifolium, various grasses.

• Wiseana copularis (Meyrick, 1912)
• Wiseana fuliginea (Butler, 1879)
• Wiseana jocosa (Meyrick, 1912)

• Larva feeds on grasses

• Wiseana mimica (Philpott, 1923)
• Wiseana signata (Walker, 1856)

• Larva feeds on grasses

• Wiseana umbraculata (Guenée, 1868)

• Larva feeds on grasses