Antiscopa elaphra

Last updated

Antiscopa elaphra
Antiscopa elaphra male.jpg
Male
Antiscopa elaphra female.jpg
Female
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Antiscopa
Species:
A. elaphra
Binomial name
Antiscopa elaphra
(Meyrick, 1884) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Scoparia elaphraMeyrick, 1884

Antiscopa elaphra is a moth in the family Crambidae. [3] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. Adults of this species are on the wing from August until March and are attracted to light. In 2020 this species had its DNA barcode sequenced.

Contents

Taxonomy

Illustration of species by George Hudson. Fig 5 MA I437621 TePapa Plate-XXII-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration of species by George Hudson.

This species was first named Scoparia elaphra by Edward Meyrick in 1884. [4] [2] In 1885 Meyrick gave a detailed description of the species using specimens collected near Palmerston North and Christchurch. [5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Scoparia acompa in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [6] In 1964 Eugene Munroe placed this species in the genus Antiscopa. [7] This placement was accepted by John S. Dugdale in 1988. [2] The male lectotype, collected in Palmerston North, is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]

Description

Observation of live A. elaphra. Antiscopa elaphra 237293413.jpg
Observation of live A. elaphra.

Meyrick described the adults of this species as follows:

Male, female. — 12-14 mm. Head and thorax pale ochreous mixed with whitish, shoulders narrowly suffused with dark fuscous. Palpi 4+12, dark fuscous, white above and beneath. Antennae whitish-ochreous; in male joints serrate with apical teeth only, ciliations 1. Abdomen grey-whitish. Legs white, anterior pair suffused with dark fuscous. Forewings very elongate, narrow, triangular, costa straight, apex round-pointed, hindmargin slightly sinuate, very oblique; pale brownish-ochreous, irregularly irrorated with white on veins, and generally with scattered dark fuscous scales; base of costa rather suffused with dark fuscous; some blackish scales on submedian fold before first line; first line hardly whitish, posteriorly margined with dark fuscous, rather strongly curved; orbicular small, linear, black, touching first line; claviform smaller, similar, generally indistinct; reniform dot-like, blackish; second line obscurely whitish, anteriorly dark-margined, somewhat curved above middle, otherwise straight; a row of blackish dots on hindrnargin; cilia whitish, with two fuscous-grey lines. Hindwings 1+13, grey-whitish; lunule, postmedian line and hindrnargin grey; cilia white. [5]

This species can be distinguished from related species in its genus by its small size, long palpi, the sharp, triangular shape of, as well as the simple markings on, its forewings and its overall fragile appearance. [5] In 2020 A. elphra had its DNA barcode sequenced and published. [8]

Distribution

Palmerston North, type locality of A. elaphra. Palmerston north city.jpg
Palmerston North, type locality of A. elaphra.

It is endemic to New Zealand. [9] The species has been observed in both the North and the South Islands. [5]

Behaviour

Hudson stated that adults of this species were on the wing from August until March. [6] Adults have also been recorded on wing in the West Coast from March until September. [10] They are attracted to light. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Izatha prasophyta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Izatha prasophyta is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from the North Island, except Hawkes Bay or the Wairarapa. Larvae likely feed on rotting wood although larvae of this species have been reared on the fruiting body of the bracket fungus Bjerkandera adusta. Adults are on the wing from November to February.

<i>Eudonia octophora</i> Species of moth

Eudonia octophora is a species of moth belonging to the family Crambidae. It was named by Edward Meyrick in 1884. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands as well as the Chatham Islands. This species is known to inhabit wetlands and its larval plant host are species within the genus Juncus. Adults are commonly on the wing from October until May and are attracted to light.

<i>Pyrgotis eudorana</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Pyrgotis eudorana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic in New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. However it is regarded as a rare insect. This species inhabits native forest. Larvae exclusively feed on Muehlenbeckia australis and adults are on the wing from November to April. Adults are attracted to light.

<i>Antiscopa acompa</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Antiscopa acompa is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1884. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found both the North and South Islands. The species inhabits native forest and adult moths are attracted to light.

<i>Eudonia asterisca</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Eudonia asterisca is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was named by Edward Meyrick in 1884 and is endemic to New Zealand. It has been recorded in both the North and South Islands. This species is recorded as being present at sea level up to altitudes of 1350 m. This species has been recorded as inhabiting native podocarp/hardwood forests. The adults of this species are on the wing from December until March although they have also been recorded in October and November. They are attracted to light and have also been trapped via sugar traps.

<i>Eudonia zophochlaena</i> Species of moth

Eudonia zophochlaena is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1923. It is endemic to New Zealand. It has been hypothesised that this species is a North Island endemic. The adults of this species are on the wing from December until February. The larvae of this species are leaf miners of the leather-leaf fern Pyrrosia eleagnifolia.

<i>Erechthias charadrota</i> Species of moth

Erechthias charadrota is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1880. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found on both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest and the larvae likely feed on either deceased plant detritus or tough leaves of plants such as palms or flax. Adults are on the wing commonly from October to February and it is likely this species has two broods per year. Adults have been trapped via a blacklight.

<i>Tingena aphrontis</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena aphrontis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at altitudes between 3000 – 5000 ft at Arthur's Pass and Mount Arthur. The species lives in open alpine habitat amongst alpine vegetation. Adults of the species are on the wing in January.

<i>Tingena chloritis</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena chloritis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the South Island. Larvae of this species feed on leaf litter. The adults of this species are light flyers and are attracted to light.

<i>Tingena hemimochla</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena hemimochla is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island. Adults of this species are on the wing from December until March.

<i>Tingena horaea</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena horaea is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and have been observed in both the North and South Islands. The adults are on the wing in January.

<i>Tingena oporaea</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena oporaea is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Canterbury. The perferred habitat of this species is native beech forest at altitudes of 2500 ft however it has also been collected in tussock grassland. The larvae of this species are leaf litter feeders and the adults are on the wing in January and February.

<i>Tingena oxyina</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena oxyina is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Otago region. This species inhabits native beech forest at altitudes of between 1000 – 3000 ft. Adults of this species are on the wing in January.

<i>Trachypepla anastrella</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla anastrella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. Larvae are leaf litter feeders from the host plant Olearia fragrantissima and adults are on the wing from December until March.

<i>Trachypepla aspidephora</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla aspidephora is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. Adults are on the wing from November to March and are attracted to light. The moths can be found resting on tree trunks where their colouration imitates lichens.

<i>Helastia cymozeucta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Helastia cymozeucta is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1913. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and the upper parts of the South Island. The adults of this species have been observed on the wing from November to January as well as in March.

<i>Atomotricha oeconoma</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Atomotricha oeconoma is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1914. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at Mount Taranaki, Wellington and in Dunedin. The adults emerge in June. The female adult is semi-apterous and is incapable of flight.

<i>Atomotricha sordida</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Atomotricha sordida is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island in the Canterbury and Otago regions. The adult female of the species is brachypterous.

<i>Atomotricha versuta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Atomotricha versuta is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1914. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. The adults of the species are variable in appearance but the three principal variteis are connected b intermediate forms. The female of the species is brachypterous and is incapable of flight. Both the adult male and female have been observed resting on fences during cold winter nights.

<i>Trachypepla protochlora</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla protochlora is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest and adults are on the wing from October until February. Adults can be variable in their green shaded colour as well as in the intensity of markings on their forewings. The greenish ground colouration of this moth ensures they are well camouflaged when at rest on green mosses and lichens.

References

  1. "Antiscopa elaphra (Meyrick, 1884)". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 154. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  3. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 458. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  4. Edward Meyrick (1884). "Descriptions of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. IV. Scopariadae". New Zealand Journal of Science. 2: 236. Wikidata   Q113372586.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Edward Meyrick (1885). "Art. XI. — Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 17: 105. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q113379604.
  6. 1 2 3 Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 197, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286
  7. Eugene G. Munroe (1964). "Insects of Campbell Island. Lepidoptera: Pyralidae". Pacific Insects Monographs . 7: 260–271. ISSN   0078-7515. Wikidata   Q115118913.
  8. Renate Wöger; Roland Wöger; Matthias Nuss (27 November 2020). "DNA barcodes for Aotearoa New Zealand Pyraloidea (Lepidoptera)". Biodiversity Data Journal. 8: e58841. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.8.E58841 . ISSN   1314-2828. PMID   33293886. Wikidata   Q104135419.
  9. "Antiscopa elaphra (Meyrick, 1884)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  10. Brian M. Lyford (January 1994). "Lepidoptera and Trichoptera from Paroa, near Greymouth, New Zealand". New Zealand Entomologist. 17 (1): 46–51. doi:10.1080/00779962.1994.9721984. ISSN   0077-9962. Wikidata   Q57483705.