PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS Some notes on the biology and status of the Mnesarchaeidae (Lepidoptera)

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Abstract
The endemic New Zealand family Mnesarchaeidae is briefly reviewed and certain details of their recently discovered immature stages are described in order to see what evidence they shed on the relationships of the family within the Lepidoptera. The family has been successively placed with the Micropterigidae (Zeugloptera), then the Dacnonypha, and has most recently been regarded as having affinities with the Hepialoidea in a group referred to as “exoporian Ditrysia”. Wing pattern and genitalic features are used to divide the 6 described species of Mnesarchaea into 3 distinctive species-groups. Their behaviour and life history biology is discussed, and on the basis of larval and pupal characters it is concluded that they do indeed show a strong similarity to the Hepialoidea.