Erechthias lychnopa
| Erechthias lychnopa | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tineidae |
| Genus: | Erechthias |
| Species: | E. lychnopa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Erechthias lychnopa | |
Erechthias lychnopa is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has only been collected in a karaka grove at Sinclair Head in Wellington in November . It has yet to be collected again. It has been hypothesised that the larvae inhabit dead wood. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.
Taxonomy[edit]
It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1927 from a specimen collected by George Hudson in November, in a karaka grove, near Sinclair Head, Wellington.[2][3] Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[3]
Description[edit]
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Meyrick described the species as follows:
♂ 15 mm. Head, thorax greyish mixed darker. Palpi grey mixed blackish, beneath whitish. Antennae grey tinged fulvous on basal half. Forewings grey irregularly irrorated blackish scales finely edged whitish; a white mark on middle of costal edge; upturned apical area with median portion dark grey mixed blackish and speckled white, above and below this triangular light orange-ochreous spots, line of flexure with whitish reflections: cilia grey-whitish with blackish subbasal and postmedian shades, above apex a blackish external hook. Hindwings dark grey, an apical spot of whitish speckling; cilia grey, round apex whitish-tinged with three dark grey lines.[2]
In appearance this species is very similar to Erechthias externalla however it can be distinguished from this species as it is much larger.[4]
Distribution[edit]
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[5][1] It has only been found at Sinclair Head, in Wellington.[6]
Biology and behaviour[edit]
The larvae of this species are likely to inhabit dead wood.[6] The adult moths are on the wing in November.[4] The habitat these moths have frequented is scrub forest.[4]
Conservation status[edit]
This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[7] E. lychnopa has yet to be found again since being first collected in November in shrubland at Sinclair Head.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Erechthias lychnopa Meyrick, 1927". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ a b Meyrick, Edward (1927). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera" (PDF). Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 57: 697–702 – via National Library of New Zealand.
- ^ a b Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 62. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 334. OCLC 25449322.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 464. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b Patrick, Brian H.; Dugdale, J. S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 22. ISBN 0478218672. OCLC 154670803. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
- ^ Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). "Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 8.
- ^ Brian H. Patrick (1994), Coastal butterflies and moths of Wellington and South Wairarapa. (PDF), Wikidata Q110426707, archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2021