Aoraia senex

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Aoraia senex
Aoraia senex female.jpg
Female specimen
Aoraia senex male.jpg
Male specimen
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hepialidae
Genus: Aoraia
Species:
A. senex
Binomial name
Aoraia senex
(Hudson, 1908)
Synonyms [1]
  • Porina senexHudson, 1908
  • Porina annulataHamilton, 1909

Aoraia senex is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, [2] where it is known from the South Island. [3] This species was first described by George Vernon Hudson in 1908 from specimens discovered by J. H. Lewis in Central Otago. [4]

The wingspan is 43–50 mm for males. Females are sub-brachypterous with a wingspan of 30–34 mm. [1] The forewings and hindwings are sparsely scaled and those of the female are narrowed and apically pointed. Adults are on wing from December to February. Adults are day-flying. [1]

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<i>Aoraia</i> Genus of moths

Aoraia is a genus of moths of the family Hepialidae. There are 13 described species, all endemic to New Zealand. The type species of this genus is Porina dinodes Meyrick, 1890. This genus contains some large species with a wingspan of up to 150 mm.

<i>Izatha mesoschista</i> Species of moth

Izatha mesoschista is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Aoraia aspina</i> Species of moth

Aoraia aspina is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It was described by John S. Dugdale in 1994 from specimens collected in the Tasman, Otago and Southland districts. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Aoraia aurimaculata</i> Species of moth

Aoraia aurimaculata is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It was described by Alfred Philpott in 1914 from a specimen collected at The Hermitage, Mount Cook by F. S. Oliver. This holotype specimen is now lost. A. aurimaculata is endemic to New Zealand,

<i>Aoraia dinodes</i> Species of moth

Aoraia dinodes is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth was described by Edward Meyrick in 1890 from specimens collected in Invercargill by Captain Hutton.

<i>Aoraia enysii</i> Species of moth

Aoraia enysii, also known as the forest ghost moth is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This is the only species of the genus Aoraia that can be found in the North as well as the South Island. This species can be found from Mount Te Aroha southwards. This species was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 from a specimen obtained in the North Island by J. D. Enys.

<i>Aoraia flavida</i> Species of moth

Aoraia flavida is a species of moth from the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species was described by John S. Dugdale in 1994 from specimens obtained near Gem Lake in the Umbrella Mountains in Southland and collected by B. H. Patrick.

<i>Aoraia insularis</i> Species of moth

Aoraia insularis, also known as the Rakiura ghost moth, is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on only on Stewart Island and Steward Island's surrounding smaller islands. It was described by John S. Dugdale in 1994.

<i>Aoraia lenis</i> Species of moth

Aoraia lenis is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was described by John S. Dugdale in 1994.

<i>Aoraia macropis</i> Species of moth

Aoraia macropis is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the mountains of southern Central Otago. It was described by John S. Dugdale in 1994.

<i>Aoraia oreobolae</i> Species of moth

Aoraia oreobolae is a species of moth in the family Hepialidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Aoraia orientalis</i> Species of moth

Aoraia orientalis is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in eastern Central Otago. It was described by John S. Dugdale in 1994.

<i>Aoraia rufivena</i> Species of moth

Aoraia rufivena, also known as the rufous-veined aoraia or the Otago ghost moth, is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. A. rufivena was described by John S. Dugdale in 1994.

<i>Dioxycanus fusca</i> Species of moth

Dioxycanus fusca is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1914 as Porina fusca using specimens collected by C. Fenwick and M. O. Pasco. In 1966 L. J. Dumbleton reviewed New Zealand Hepialinae and placed this species within the genus Dioxycanus, giving it the new combination Dioxycanus fuscus.

<i>Dioxycanus oreas</i> Species of moth

Dioxycanus oreas is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by George Vernon Hudson in 1920. The species was discovered by Averil Lysaght.

<i>Dumbletonius characterifer</i> Species of moth

Dumbletonius characterifer is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumbletonius unimaculatus</span> Species of moth

Dumbletonius unimaculatus, also known as the forest ghost moth, is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is host to the vegetable caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps robertsii.

<i>Wiseana copularis</i> Species of moth

Wiseana copularis is a species of moth belonging to the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is one of several very similar looking species within the genus Wiseana and this group are collectively referred to as "Porina" moths. In its larvae form this species consumes pasture grasses and, if numerous, is regarded as a pest by New Zealand farmers reliant on good quality pasture for their stock.

<i>Physetica caerulea</i> Species of moth

Physetica caerulea is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the centre of the North Island south, including the South and Stewart Islands. The adult moths are variable in appearance but can be distinguished by the bluish tinge to the forewings as well as the underside buff colour. However this species does have several forms including a very dark bluish black form, a brownish form and a green-brown form. It lives in open habitats and can be found in tussock grasslands and dunes and can normally be found from altitudes of sea level up to 900 m. Adults of this species are on the wing from August to April. As at 2017, the life history of is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. However it has been hypothesised that the larval host species is a tomentose plant.

<i>Austramathes pessota</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Austramathes pessota is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in Northland, in the southern North Island and in the South Island, mainly on the eastern side of that island but is also present in Fiordland. It is not regarded as being present in either Dunedin or the Southland district. This species lives in shrubland at altitudes ranging from sea-level up to subalpine. As at 2017, the larvae have yet to be described or photographed but it is known that they feed on Melicytus alpinus and it is likely that Melicytus micranthus is also a host. Adults of this species are distinctively patterned and coloured. Its appearance differs from its close relatives such as A. purpurea as it lacks the purple hue that can be seen on the latter species forewings. It also differs from A. coelacantha as it is much darker and has a distinctive small, round, pale mark on its forewing. Adults are on the wing from December to April.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dugdale, J. S. (1994). "Hepialidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 30: 1–164 via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
  2. "Aoraia senex (Hudson, 1908)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  3. Dumbleton, L. J. (December 1966). "Genitalia, classification & zoogeography of New Zealand Hepialidae (Lepidopter)" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Science: 920–981.
  4. Hudson, George Vernon (1908). "Recent observations on New Zealand macrolepidoptera including descriptions of new species". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 40: 104–107 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.