Epichorista lindsayi

Epichorista lindsayi
Male holotype
Conservation status
Nationally Endangered (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Tortricidae
Genus:	Epichorista
Species:	E. lindsayi
Binomial name
Epichorista lindsayi Philpott, 1928 [2]

Epichorista lindsayi is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae. ^[2] It is endemic to New Zealand and is found only on the Banks Peninsula. E. lindsayi inhabits grassy glades in lowland mature podocarp forest. It has an affinity for the plant species Microlaena polynoda and it is likely that this is the moth's larval host plant. Adults are on the wing in January and are day flying. In 2017 this species was classified as Nationally Endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1928 using specimens collected at Little River in Canterbury. It is named after the collector of the holotype, Stuart Lindsay. ^[3] Lindsay collected two males of the species at Little River on 29 January 1928. ^[4] George Vernon Hudson described and illustrated the species in his 1939 publication A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. ^[5] The genus level classification of New Zealand endemic moths within the genus Epichorista is regarded as unsatisfactory and is under revision. ^{[4] [6]} As such this species is currently also known as Epichorista (s.l.) lindsayi. ^[2] The male holotype is held at the Canterbury Museum. ^[7]

Description

Illustration by Hudson

Philpott described this species as follows:

Male.—14-15mm. Head, palpi, and thorax bright ochreous, palpi moderately long. Antennae ochreous annulated with brown, ciliations in male almost 1. Abdomen fuscous mixed with ochreous. Legs ochreous, tarsi infuscated. Forewings moderately long, costa arched at base, thence straight, apex rounded, termen oblique ; bright ochreous, slightly paler on costa towards base ; fringes concolorous with wing. Hind wings fuscous ; fringes fuscous with pale tips. ^[3]

E. lindsayi is very similar in appearance to Eurythecta eremana but can be distinguished by the differences in the venational structure of its wings. ^[3] It is also similar in appearance to Epichorista siriana but E. lindsayi may be distinguished by the longer palpi, the lighter forewings and the larger size. ^[3] Hudson stated that the E. lindsayi could also be distinguished from those species as a result of the numerous minute black dots on its forewings. ^[5]

Distribution

Microlaena polynoda

Banks Peninsula, type locality of E. lindsayi

This species is endemic to New Zealand. ^{[6] [2]} It has only ever been found on the Banks Peninsula. ^{[8] [4]} In 1982 Brian Patrick stated that this species had been collected at Danseys Pass in February. ^[9] However in his subsequent publication in 2014 Patrick discussed this species as being "rediscovered" in 2014 at Wairewa Forest and made no mention of the Danseys Pass specimen. ^[4]

Habitat and hosts

This species occurs in grassy glades dominated by the plant species Microlaena polynoda in lowland mature podocarp forest. ^{[8] [4]} Microlaena polynoda is the likely larval host of E. lindsayi. ^{[4] [8]} In 2014 Patrick examined the leaves of this plant and found larval damage half way along the leaf. ^[4] Inside the rolled leaf he found silk as well as larvae living inside. ^[4]

Behaviour

Adults of this species are on the wing in January. ^[3] It is a day flying moth. ^{[8] [4]}

Conservation status

E. lindsayi has been classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Endangered. ^[1] It obtained this classification as it has only been located at one location with a total area of occupancy less than 10 ha and has a predicted decline of between 50–70%. ^[1]

References

1. 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. 6. ISBN   9781988514383.
2. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 464. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
3. Alfred Philpott (1928). "Some new species of Lepidoptera". Records of the Canterbury Museum. 3 (3): 181. ISSN   0370-3878. Wikidata   Q133244934. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
4. Brian Patrick (1 December 2014). "Conservation status of five data deficient moth taxa: Epichorista lindsayi, "Cnephasia" paterna, Stathmopoda endotherma, Gymnobathra ambigua and Scythris "stripe"". The Wētā. 48: 15–34. ISSN   0111-7696. Wikidata   Q105343576.
5. George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 435, OCLC   9742724, Wikidata   Q109420935 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
6. "Epichorista lindsayi Philpott, 1928". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
7. 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: 122–123. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
8. Scott Hooson (2 September 2014). Christchurch District Plan Site of Ecological Significance: Breitmeyers (PDF) (Report). Christchurch City Council. pp. 1–17. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
9. B. Patrick (January 1982). "Lepidoptera of Danseys Pass, Otago". New Zealand Entomologist. 7 (3): 333. doi:10.1080/00779962.1982.9722418. ISSN   0077-9962. Wikidata   Q54755440.

External links

• Image of moth can be found on page 17