Dichromodes gypsotis

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Dichromodes gypsotis
Dichromodes gypsotis female.jpg
Female
Dichromodes gypsotis male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Dichromodes
Species:
D. gypsotis
Binomial name
Dichromodes gypsotis
Meyrick, 1888 [1]

Dichromodes gypsotis (also known as the marbled lichen carpet moth) [2] is a moth of the family Geometridae. [3] This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the lower half of the South Island. The species inhabits open rocky sites. The larvae of D. gypsotis feed on lichen. The adults are day flying and are on the wing from October to January.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. [4] Meyrick had previously described the specimen he used to establish D. gypsotis in 1884 mistakenly thinking he was describing the female of the species Cacopsodos niger. [4] [5] He corrected this error in the 1888 publication recognising it as a new species. [4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [6] The female holotype specimen, collected by Meyrick at Lake Wakatipu in December at approximate 460m above sea-level, is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [7] [5]

Description

Illustration of adult male by G. Hudson. Fig 15 MA I437614 TePapa Plate-XV-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration of adult male by G. Hudson.

The larvae of this species resembles the larvae of D. ida . [6] [8] Alfred Philpott discussed the larvae as follows:

I reared the species from larvae found feeding on lichen. A description of the larva was not secured, but it was of a remarkable character, the margins of each segment being expanded into fimbriated processes, thus imitating the edges of the food-plant. [8]

Meyrick described the adult female of this species as follows:

Female.—13 mm. Forewings rather narrow, costa sinuate, hindmargin sinuate; white, slightly mixed with grey; inner margin narrowly grey; a slender black fascia almost at base; a slender black fascia at ⅓, dentate inwards above middle, dilated on costa; a slender black fascia beyond middle, sharply angulated in middle, dilated on costa, connected below middle with preceding fascia by a suffused bar; close beyond this a rather broad parallel grey fascia; an indistinct grey subterminal line. Hindwings moderate, hindmargin rounded; dark grey. [5]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [9] As well as the type locality of Lake Wakatipu D. gypostis has been observed at Poolburn, Central Otago, at Jacks Pass in Hanmer, Mount Grey, Aoraki / Mount Cook, and in the Takitimo Mountains. [6] [10]

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits open rocky sites in Otago and Southland. [2] The larvae of D. gypsotis feed on lichens. [6] [8]

Behaviour

The adults of this species is day flying. [2] They are on the wing from October until January. [11] [8]

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

Trachypepla lichenodes is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest and adults of this species are on the wing from November to January. The adult moths are similarly coloured to native lichen species however this colouration is variable in the extent and depth on the forewings.

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Chrysorthenches porphyritis is a species of moth of the family Plutellidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found on both the North and South Islands in open native forest and scrub at altitudes from sea level up to 1370 m. The larvae feed on Podocarpus laetus, P. totara, P. nivalis, and Phyllocladus alpinus. The larvae create a shelter by loosely spinning together the leaves of its host plant and can be found feeding in groups. The pupa is formed inside a thin cocoon. Hudson was of the opinion that this species had two broods a year. Adult moths are on the wing all year round. The adults of this species, particularly the female, are variable in colouration and in forewing pattern.

References

  1. ↑ "Dichromodes gypsotis Meyrick, 1888 - Biota of NZ". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  2. 1 2 3 Maanaki Whenua Landcare Research (October 2016). "Shedding light on the night – a citizen science programme to study moths" (PDF). Open Space. 91: 14–15 – via qeiinationaltrust.org.nz.
  3. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 460. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  4. 1 2 3 Edward Meyrick (May 1888). "Notes on New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 20: 60. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q108281219.
  5. 1 2 3 Edward Meyrick (May 1884). "A Monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16: 94. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q109615359.
  6. 1 2 3 4 George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, p. 134, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286 {{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ↑ John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 191–192. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Alfred Philpott (1917). "A list of the Lepidoptera of Otago". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 49: 211. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q63958657.
  9. ↑ "Dichromodes gypsotis Meyrick, 1888". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  10. ↑ George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, p. 413, OCLC   9742724, Wikidata   Q109420935 {{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ↑ Brian H. Patrick (1991). Insects of the Dansey Ecological District (PDF). pp. 1–25. ISBN   0-478-01285-3. ISSN   0113-3713. Wikidata   Q110318301. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2021.{{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
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