Adventive species of Lepidoptera recorded for the first time in New Zealand since 1988

Information is provided about the 27 species of foreign Lepidoptera recorded from New Zealand for the first time after 1988. Most of these have become established in this country. Four species (Heteroteucha dichroella (Oecophoridae), Cizara arde-niae (Sphingidae), Papilio xuthus (Papilionidae) and Chasmina sp. (Noctuidae)) are only known in New Zealand from a single specimen, with no evidence of establishment. One established species (Orgyia thyellina (Lymantriidae)) has been deliberately erad-icated. Eighteen species are believed to have arrived from Australia, although some of these (e.g. Herpetogramma licarsisalis) also occur elsewhere. Three species (Orgyia thyellina, Artona martini (Zygaenidae) and Papilio xuthus) are Asian in origin. Three species (Agonopterix alstromeriana (Depress-ariidae), Coleophora striatipennella (Coleophoridae) and Scrobipalpa obsoletella (Gelechiidae)) are European. One species (Monochroa sp. (Gelechiidae)) is probably Palaearctic but has not yet been identified to species.The remaining two species (Trichophysetis sp. (Crambidae) and Chasmina sp.) have not been found in collections from outside New Zealand, but are likely to be Australian. A further two Australian species (Barea codrella (Oecophoridae) and Teia anar-toides (Lymantriidae)), first recorded in New Zealand prior to 1988, are dealt with here. All 29 species are illustrated, and a brief diagnosis is pro-vided for adults of species that resemble other New Zealand taxa. Notes are given on origin, date of first collection in New Zealand, known distribution in this country and life history where known