Bascantis

Last updated

Bascantis
Fig 23 MA I437898 TePapa Plate-XXXVII-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Bascantis sirenica
Status NZTCS DD.svg
Data Deficient (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Bascantis

Meyrick, 1914 [2]
Species:
B. sirenica
Binomial name
Bascantis sirenica
Meyrick, 1914 [3]

Bascantis is a genus of moths belonging to the family Tineidae. It contains only one species, Bascantis sirenica, that is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1914 using a specimen collected by George Hudson at Kaeo in January. [4] [5] Hudson discussed and illustrated this species both in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand as well as his 1950 publication Fragments of New Zealand entomology. [6] [7] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [4]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

♀︎. 12 mm. Head and thorax deep purple, face whitish. Palpi dark fuscous. Antennae violet - fuscous. Abdomen dark bluish - grey. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, posteriorly slightly dilated, costa anteriorly slightly, towards apex strongly arched, apex obtuse, termen obliquely rounded ; deep purple ; a semioval ochreous-white spot on middle of costa, reaching 13 across wing ; dorsum obscurely marked with several small blue- metallic spots and minute whitish dots ; a transverse-linear blackish mark in disc at 34 ; a narrow bright-purple transverse fascia shot with metallic-blue and edged anteriorly with indistinct white dots from beyond 34 of costa to tornus, and another before apex : cilia dark grey, with blackish median line. Hindwings dark bronzy-fuscous, lighter anteriorly ; cilia dark grey. [5]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [8] [3] Along with the type locality of Kaeo, this species has also been collected in Waitākere Ranges, [6] Days Bay, [6] and Wainuiomata. [7] It was last seen in 1950. [9]

Biology and behaviour

Zorion guttigerum Zorion guttigerum.jpg
Zorion guttigerum

The adult moth is on the wing in January. [6] It is a day flying moth. [9] It has been hypothesised that this moth mimics the appearance of the beetle Zorion guttigerum . [6]

Host species and habitat

This species has been collected by sweeping in dense forest. [7]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Data Deficient. [1]

Related Research Articles

Stigmella progama is a species of moth in the family Nepticulidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation. S. progama has only been collected on Bold Peak in Otago.

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

Izatha caustopa is a lichen tuft moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known very locally, and very infrequently, from the southern half of the North Island: two specimens collected in 2016 were the first seen for 30 years. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

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

Izatha rigescens is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as having the conservation status of "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation. It is only known from the Wellington coast. This species has not been seen since 1929.

Heterocrossa contactella is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Heterocrossa cryodana is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Heterocrossa epomiana is a species moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Heterocrossa gonosemana is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Isonomeutis restincta</i> Species of moth

Isonomeutis restincta, the marbled snouter, is a species of moth in the family Copromorphidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

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.

<i>Trigonistis anticlina</i> Species of moth

Trigonistis anticlina is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. Adults of this species inhabit dense native forest habitat in ravines.

<i>Chersadaula ochrogastra</i> Species of moth

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.

<i>Stathmopoda campylocha</i> Species of moth

Stathmopoda campylocha is a species of moth in the family Stathmopodidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Erechthias lychnopa is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

Pyrgotis transfixa is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Pyrausta comastis</i> Species of moth

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.

Elachista eurychora is a species of moth in the family Elachistidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Hierodoris stella</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Hierodoris stella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Austrocidaria lithurga</i> Species of moth

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.

Lathicrossa prophetica is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

Gymnobathra origenes is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is in need of taxonomic revision and it has been hypothesised that it belongs to the family Gelechiidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand. It has been classified as Data Deficient by the Department of Conservation. This species is known from only one specimen.

References

  1. 1 2 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). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 5. ISBN   9781988514383.
  2. "BASCANTIS - Butterflies and Moths of the World". www.nhm.ac.uk. Natural History Museum, London. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Bascantis sirenica Meyrick, 1914". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  4. 1 2 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 155. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  5. 1 2 Meyrick, E. (1914). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 46: 101–118 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 341. OCLC   25449322.
  7. 1 2 3 Hudson, George Vernon (1950). Fragments of New Zealand entomology : a popular account of all the New Zealand cicadas : the natural history of the New Zealand glow-worm : a second supplement to The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, and notes on many other native insects. Wellington, N.Z.: Ferguson & Osborn. pp. 112–113. OCLC   154155584.
  8. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 464. ISBN   9781877257933. OCLC   973607714.|volume= has extra text (help)
  9. 1 2 "NZTCS Lepidoptera spreadsheet". www.doc.govt.nz. 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2018.