| Austrocidaria lithurga | |
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| Male | |
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| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Austrocidaria |
| Species: | A. lithurga |
| Binomial name | |
| Austrocidaria lithurga | |
| Synonyms | |
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Austrocidaria lithurga is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is classified as at risk, naturally uncommon by the Department of Conservation.
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 and named Hydriomena lithurga. [2] [3] Meyrick used a specimen obtained from R. M. Sunley who had collected a pupa from a Muehlenbeckia plant at Mākara Beach, Wellington, in November and had raised the adult in captivity. [3] George Hudson described and illustrated the species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. [4] In 1971 John S. Dugdale assigned H. lithurga to the genus Austrocidaria. [5] Dugdale postulated that A. lithurga might prove synonymous with Austrocidaria prionota . [5]
The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]
Meyrick originally described this species as follows:
♂︎. 25 mm. Head and thorax pale greyish-ochreous mixed with whitish, transversely barred with blackish-grey suffusion. Palpi 1+1⁄2, blackish-grey, lower longitudinal half whitish. Antennae somewhat stout, shortly ciliated (1⁄3). Abdomen pale greyish-ochreous, mixed on sides with dark grey and whitish, segmental margins white preceded by a black mark on each side of back. Forewings triangular, costa rather strongly arched towards apex, apex obtuse, termen rather obliquely rounded, crenate; pale greyish-ochreous, marked with indistinct waved striae of grey irroration becoming blackish on costa; margin of a small basal patch indicated on lower half by a blackish stria edged with white posteriorly; median band formed by two fasciae of several rather irregular suffused grey striae each, well marked except beneath costa, margins marked with black edged exteriorly with white except near costa, anterior margin twice sinuate, posterior with median third forming a rather strong subtriangular obliquely bilobate prominence; a transverse-linear black slightly whitish-edged discal dot on anterior of these fasciae; subterminal line of ground-colour, slender, strongly waved, preceded by some grey suffusion towards dorsum and above middle, and cut by an oblique dark-grey streak from apex marked with blackish; a fine black terminal line: cilia whitish with two grey shades, with undefined dark-grey bars. Hindwings with termen rounded, crenate; grey- whitish, median band and subtei-minal line indicated by faint grey striae obsolete towards costa; a blackish-grey linear discal dot; cilia as in forewings, but dark markings nearly obsolete round apex. [3]
This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] This species range is Wellington and Mid Canterbury. [6] As well as the type locality, this species is recorded as having been collected at Sinclair Head and at Baring Head, both in Wellington. [4] [7] It has also been located in south Marlborough. [8] It is possible that the species is also present at Little Bush, Puketitiri, in the Hawkes Bay. [9]
The pupa of this species is attached to a loose cocoon. [3] The adult moth is on the wing in October and November. [4] [10]
Hudson hypothesised that the host plants of the larvae of this moth are Muehlenbeckia species [4] and it has also been suggested that the host plants are divaricating small-leaved Coprosma species. [6] However the precise host species for this moth is unknown as is its preferred habitat but it has been hypothesised that A. tithurga prefers open shrub-land. [8]
This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification System as being at risk, naturally uncommon. [11]
Maoricrambus is a genus of moths of the family Crambidae. It contains only one species, Maoricrambus oncobolus, which is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as Nationally Endangered by the Department of Conservation.
Izatha apodoxa is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from scattered localities in the southern North Island. This species is variable in appearance and comes in two forms, a grey form and a black and white form. In the grey form it is very similar in appearance to I. notodoxa and in the black and white form to I. katadiktya. At present the larvae and biology of this species is unknown.
Petasactis is a genus of moths belonging to the family Tineidae. It contains only one species, Petasactis technica, which is endemic to New Zealand. This species has not been collected since prior to 1888. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.
Glyphipterix euastera is a species of sedge moth in the genus Glyphipterix. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.
Pasiphila aristias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1897 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in both the North and South Islands and inhabits subalpine and native forest. Adults are on the wing in December and January and are attracted to light.
Meterana tetrachroa is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.
Chersadaula ochrogastra is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.
Gadira leucophthalma, the beaked moss moth, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the south eastern side of the South Island down to Banks Peninsula. G. leucophthalma inhabits the foredunes of coastal areas. The larval host is unknown but it has been hypothesised that the larvae feed on moss. The adult moths are day flying although some specimens have been trapped at night via light traps. Adults are commonly on the wing from March to April. This species has been classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.
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.
Pyrausta comastis is a moth in the family Crambidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It has been classified as "nationally vulnerable" by the Department of Conservation.
Asaphodes chlorocapna is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can only be found in the Chatham Islands. The larvae of this species consume the leaves of Muehlenbeckia plants. Adults are on the wing in January. This species is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.
Trachypepla cyphonias is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in Wellington and Taranaki. Larvae of this species have been reared from kānuka leaf litter. Adults are on the wing in December. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.
Xanthorhoe lophogramma is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and if found in the South Island. This species inhabits dry beech scrub but its larval host is unknown. Adult moths are on the wing in January. This species is classified as "At Risk, Nationally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.
Tingena eumenopa is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in the North and South Islands. The adults have been found amongst tree ferns and are on the wing in December.
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.
Asaphodes stephanitis is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. this species inhabits coastal sand hills and grassland and is regarded as being rare. Adults are on the wing from January to March.
Asaphodes prymnaea is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on the Mount Arthur tableland. It is common in limestone valleys. The female of the species is paler and has less distinctive markings than the male. Adults are on the wing in January and February.
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.
Pseudocoremia colpogramma is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1936. It is 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.
