tentorii

tentorii is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by the entomologist Edward Meyrick in 1938. The species is known from the subalpine regions of the southern Alps and the foothills of the Himalayas, where it has been recorded at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,800 metres. Adult specimen are characterised by a wingspan of 28–34 millimetres and a distinctive mottled brown forewing pattern with a faint pale median band. Genitalic examination reveals a unique combination of a slender, elongated valva in males and a pronounced, curved vinculum in females, which distinguish it from closely related taxa such as theireremia and picosoma. Larvae feed primarily on the leaves of Poaceae grasses, particularly Festuca arundinacea, and are often found in dense patches under leaf litter. In the wild they create silken shelters in which they overwinter. The species follows a single generation per year, with adults emerging in late June and early July. Although its range is limited, the species appears to be locally common and shows no signs of significant population declines. Conservation status has not been formally assessed by the IUCN, but its occurrence in protected alpine and subalpine habitats suggests it is not currently at high risk. Studies on its phylogenetic position within Noctuidae have placed tentorii within the subfamily Hadeninae, showing a close relationship to the genus Azeta. The species is of interest to entomologists studying alpine insect ecology and the evolutionary adaptations of noctuid moths to high‑altitude environments.