Erechthias hemiclistra

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Erechthias hemiclistra
Erechthias hemiclistra 457099441.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tineidae
Genus: Erechthias
Species:
E. hemiclistra
Binomial name
Erechthias hemiclistra
(Meyrick, 1911) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Decadarchis hemiclistraMeyrick, 1911

Erechthias hemiclistra is a species of moth of the family Tineidae. [3] It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest and has an affinity for species in the genera Phormium, Cortaderia and Cordyline, likely as a result of its larvae feeding on dead fibre sourced from plant species in these genera. Adults are on the wing from September to April but are most commonly observed in December and January. Adults are also attracted to light.

Contents

Taxonomy

E. hemiclistra was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 and was originally named Decadarchis hemiclistra. [4] Meyrick obtained the specimens for this original description from George Hudson who reared this moth from caterpillars and cocoons obtained at Mākara using the flower stems of Chionochloa conspicua. [4] In 1914 Meyrick assigned this species to the genus Erechthias. [5] In 1927 Alfred Philpott studied and illustrated the male genitalia of specimens of E. hemiclistra. [6] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [7] In 1988 John S. Dugdale confirmed the placement of this species in the genus Erechthias. [8] The female lectotype originating from Mākara is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]

Description

Larva Fig 36 MA I437602 TePapa Plate-III-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Larva

Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:

Its length, when full-grown, is slightly over 1⁄2 inch, very elongate tapering posteriorly and much flattened above; general colour ochreous with a brown dorsal stripe, indicating the position of the alimentary canal; the head is reddish-brown and very shining; the second segment dull brown and semi-transparent; there is whitish raised lateral ridge and similar intersegmental ridges; the legs and prolegs are very small, ochreous-brown and the whole larva is sparingly clothed with long bristles. [7]

The larva of this species is similar in appearance to that of Erechthias terminella but is somewhat larger. [9]

Pupa Fig 37 MA I437602 TePapa Plate-III-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Pupa

Hudson also described the pupa as follows:

The pupa is about 1⁄4 inch long, elongate, pale brown, darker on the back; the very prominent eye-ease and thoracic shield are dark blackish-brown and shining; the antennae extend to the end of the body and the wing-cases are pale ochreous. [7]

Female adult Fig 21 MA I437897 TePapa Plate-XXXVI-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Female adult

Meyrick originally described the adults of this species as follows:

♂ 15-17 mm., ♀ 22 mm. Head and thorax ochreous-whitish, sometimes brownish-tinged, hairs of forehead sometimes mixed with dark fuscous. Palpi whitish, second joint suffused externally with dark fuscous, beneath with whitish projecting scales increasing to apex, terminal joint moderate, slender, with appressed scales. Antennae fuscous-whitish. Abdomen whitish-fuscous. Forewings elongate, narrow, costa moderately arched, apex round-pointed, termen slightly sinuate, extremely oblique; ochreous-white, on dorsal half and towards apex in ♂ tinged with brownish, in ♀ more strongly infuscated, with variable scattered dark-fuscous and black scales, especially in ♀; a dark-fuscous streak along costa from base to middle, posteriorly dilated and truncate; an elongate suffused dark-fuscous mark beneath costa about 2⁄3; a blackish-fuscous streak from 2⁄3 of disc to apex, interrupted before apex, edged above with an ochreous-whitish line : cilia ochreous-whitish, with more or less marked dark-fuscous post median line, at apex with a blackish bar, round apex with a blackish-fuscous subbasal shade. Hindwings in ♂ whitish - grey, in ♀ light grey; cilia ochreous-whitish. [4]

Distribution

Chionochloa conspicua, the species used to rear E. hemiclistra Chionochloa conspicua ssp. conspicua.jpg
Chionochloa conspicua, the species used to rear E. hemiclistra

E. hemiclistra is endemic to New Zealand. [1] It has been observed in both the North and South Islands. [7] Hudson regarded this species as uncommon. [7]

Habitat and hosts

The food of the larvae of E. hemiclistra is likely dead monocotyledonous fibre such as the dead flower stalks of Phormium and Cortaderia . [10] [11] Adults have been beaten from cabbage trees and have been observed on Cordyline indivisa . [12] [13]

Behaviour

Reared adults have emerged in November and February. [4] Adults in the wild are on the wing from September until April but are most commonly observed in December and January. [14] [7] Adults of this species are attracted to light and have been collected via this trapping method. [14] [15]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Erechthias hemiclistra (Meyrick, 1911)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 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: 62. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. 1 2 3 4 E. Meyrick (1 July 1911). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 77. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q58200989. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. ↑ E. Meyrick (12 July 1915). "Revision of New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47: 233. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q63123349.
  6. ↑ Alfred Philpott (15 November 1927). "The Male Genitalia of the New Zealand Lyonetiidae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 327–329. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q131610220.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 335, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  8. ↑ 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: 61. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  9. ↑ George Vernon Hudson (1950), Fragments of New Zealand entomology. - a popular account of all 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: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 112, Wikidata   Q107693053
  10. ↑ J. R. Grehan (January 1990). "Invertebrate survey of Somes Island (Matiu) and Mokopuna Island, Wellington Harbour, New Zealand". New Zealand Entomologist. 13 (1): 74. doi:10.1080/00779962.1990.9722595. ISSN   0077-9962. Wikidata   Q54670113.
  11. ↑ David Edward Gaskin (1970). "Analysis of light trap catches of Lepidoptera from Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1966-68". New Zealand Journal of Science. 13: 499. ISSN   0028-8365. Wikidata   Q131617605.
  12. ↑ D. E. Gaskin (January 1970). "NEW RECORDS OF LEPIDOPTERA FROM MT. EGMONT AND MT. RUAPEHU, NEW ZEALAND". New Zealand Entomologist. 4 (3): 113. doi:10.1080/00779962.1970.9722933. ISSN   0077-9962. Wikidata   Q105726524.
  13. ↑ Clarke, Charles E. (9 August 1920). "Lepidoptera of Auckland and the King-country". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 52: 41. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q110226875.
  14. 1 2 Ronald Alan Cumber (1951). "Flight records of Lepidoptera taken with a modified Rothamsted light trap operated at Paiaka". The New Zealand journal of science and technology. B. General section. 33: 190. ISSN   0369-6960. Wikidata   Q131617533.
  15. ↑ T. H. Davies (January 1973). "LIST OF LEPIDOPTERA COLLECTED IN AREAS SURROUNDING HASTINGS AND NAPIER" (PDF). New Zealand Entomologist. 5 (2): 204–216. doi:10.1080/00779962.1973.9723002. ISSN   0077-9962. Wikidata   Q54755566. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2013.
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