Glaucocharis epiphaea

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Glaucocharis epiphaea
Glaucocharis epiphaea female.jpg
Female
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Subfamily: Crambinae
Tribe: Diptychophorini
Genus: Glaucocharis
Species:
G. epiphaea
Binomial name
Glaucocharis epiphaea
(Meyrick, 1885) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Diptychophora epiphaeaMeyrick, 1885
  • Pareromene epiphaea(Meyrick, 1885)

Glaucocharis epiphaea is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. [3] It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1885. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. G. epiphaea prefers mountainous habitat and frequents very damp spots including alpine and subalpine moss bogs. Larvae feed on the moss Dawsonia superba . Adults are on the wing from September until March and are diurnal.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass in January and named Diptychophora epiphaea. [4] [5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [6] In 1929 Alfred Philpott studied the male genitalia of this species. [7] In 1971 David Gaskin placed this species in the genus Pareromene. [8] In 1985 Gaskin again discussed this species and placed it in the genus Glaucocharis. [9] The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]

Description

Illustration by G. Hudson Fig 40 MA I437618 TePapa Plate-XIX-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration by G. Hudson

Meyrick described this species as follows:

Male, female. — 12-14 mm. Head, palpi, antennae, thorax, abdomen, and legs fuscous. Forewings broad, triangular, costa hardly arched, apex rounded, hindmargin oblique, slightly rounded, once indented below apex ; fuscous, with green reflections ; lines slender, irregularly denticulate, dark fuscous ; first line from beyond 1⁄3 of costa to before middle of inner margin, angulated above middle and bent inwards below middle ; discal spot obsolete or represented by a faint darker suffusion ; second line from 3⁄4 of costa to 3⁄4 of inner margin, angulated above middle, thence tolerably straight ; sometimes two or three whitish longitudinal streaks towards hindmargin above middle ; a small black apical spot : cilia whitish, with a shining dark grey basal and lighter median line. Hindwings grey or dark grey, with greenish reflections ; cilia light grey, with a dark grey basal line. [5]

Meyrick stated that G. epiphaea can be distinguished from the similar in appearance species G. bipunctella as G. epiphaea has less distinct markings and no white discal spot. [5]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. [1] [8]

Habitat and hosts

Larval host Dawsonia superba. Dawsonia superba 286409422.jpg
Larval host Dawsonia superba.

This species prefers mountainous habitat and can be found near or just above the upper limit of native forest and frequents very damp spots. [6] It has been observed at the North Island central plateau and also in South island alpine and subalpine moss bogs. [8] [9] Larvae of G. epiphaea feed on the moss Dawsonia superba . [10] As D. superba does not occur above the tree line in the mountains it has been hypothesised that the larvae of G. epiphaea does not exclusively feed on D. superba but has other hosts. [11] Larvae have also been raised to maturity using Polytrichadelphus magellanicus as a supplementary food source. [11]

Behaviour

Larvae feed from silk refuge tunnels covered in leaf fragments and frass. [10] The adult moths are day flying and are on the wing from September until March. [8]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Sabatinca chalcophanes</i> Species of moth

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<i>Sabatinca chrysargyra</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Sabatinca chrysargyra is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1886 and is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found from Franz Josef Glacier / Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere south but only on the western side of the South Island. Adults are on the wing from the beginning of October until the middle of January. Larvae likely feed on foliose liverworts and have been found on species in the genus Plagiochila. The adult moths live in a range of habitats preferring sunny open spaces in forests or snow-tussock grasslands that can range in altitude from near sea level up to 1,230 m. This species is very similar in appearance to Sabatinca aemula and dissection of genitalia is required to distinguish between the two species.

<i>Glaucocharis chrysochyta</i> Species of moth

Glaucocharis chrysochyta is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country. It inhabits native forest. Larvae appear to feed on moss and likely pupate there. Adult moths are on the wing from November to March. They fly at night and are attracted to light.

<i>Reductoderces microphanes</i> Species of moth

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<i>Gadira leucophthalma</i> Species of moth

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<i>Glaucocharis bipunctella</i> Species of moth

Glaucocharis bipunctella is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1866. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the Auckland region, in the southern parts of the North Island and in the Nelson region. It inhabits dense native forest. Larvae of this species have been raised on liverworts. Adults are on the wing in November to January and are attracted to light.

<i>Glaucocharis elaina</i> Species of moth

Glaucocharis elaina is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North and South Island with the exception of the extreme south of the South Island. The preferred habitat of this species is lowland native forest and as adults the species is attracted to broken ground including road or rail cuttings. Larvae feed on moss species including those in the genus Funaria. This species has two distinct broods during each year. Adults are on the wing from October to April, are nocturnal and are attracted to light.

<i>Glaucocharis auriscriptella</i> Species of insect

Glaucocharis auriscriptella, also known as the yellow silverling, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1864 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found in the North, South, Stewart and Great Barrier Islands. The preferred habitat of this moth is lowland and subalpine native forest as well as wetlands. The larvae feed on moss. The adult moth is day flying and is on the wing from November to February. It can be observed in colonies and can be attracted to light at night. This species likely has only one generation per year.

<i>Glaucocharis pyrsophanes</i> Species of moth

Glaucocharis pyrsophanes is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Pyrgotis eudorana</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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<i>Anisoplaca ptyoptera</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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<i>Tingena chloritis</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena chloritis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the South Island. Larvae of this species feed on leaf litter. The adults of this species are light flyers and are attracted to light.

<i>Tingena chrysogramma</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena chrysogramma is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. The adults of this species inhabits open scrubland and are on the wing in January and February. It has been collected via light traps and beating shrubs. During sunny days this species has been observed resting on leaves and rarely flies. It is regarded as a rare species and has a possible association with Prumnopitys ferruginea.

<i>Tingena crotala</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

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<i>Chalastra aristarcha</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Chalastra aristarcha, the silver fern moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1892. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island. This species inhabits dense native forest. The larvae feed on the species host plant, the Silver fern, during spring. This species then pupates on top of leaf litter or moss on the ground. The pupation state lasts for approximately 6 weeks. Adult moths are on the wing from October until April but can sometimes also be seen during the winter months. Adults can be disturbed from silver ferns during the day or are seen on the wing at night particularly at Metrosideros perforata when in flower. Adults are attracted to light. It has been hypothesised that the range of C. aristarcha has restricted as a result of urban development and land conversion of its habitat.

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

Trachypepla galaxias is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. This species inhabits native forest. The life history of this species is currently unknown. Adults are on the wing from October to February, are nocturnal and are attracted to light.

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

Trachypepla hieropis is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1892. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits native forest and the larvae feed on leaf litter. Adults are on the wing in December and are attracted to light.

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

Trachypepla leucoplanetis is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in both the North and South Islands. It is the smallest moth species in the genus Trachypepla and the patterns on the forewings of adults are variable in appearance. It inhabits native forest and bush and the larvae feed on leaf litter. Adults are on the wing from October until February. T. leucoplanetis is regarded as being rarely observed and has been collected via the beating of foliage.

<i>Chrysorthenches porphyritis</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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. 1 2 "Glaucocharis epiphaea (Meyrick, 1885)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 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: 144. 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. 457. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  4. ↑ Edward Meyrick (January 1885). "Description of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. V. Pyralidina". New Zealand Journal of Science. 2: 347. Wikidata   Q115123797.
  5. 1 2 3 Edward Meyrick (May 1885). "Art. XII. — Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 17: 132. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q110063611.
  6. 1 2 George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 176, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286
  7. ↑ Alfred Philpott (1929). "The male genitalia of the New Zealand Crambidae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 60 (3): 491–514. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q124044081.
  8. 1 2 3 4 David Edward Gaskin (1971). "A revision of New Zealand Diptychophorini (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae; Crambinae)". New Zealand Journal of Science. 14: 776 - 777. ISSN   0028-8365. Wikidata   Q110236267.
  9. 1 2 David E. Gaskin (20 December 1985). "Morphology and reclassification of the Australasian, Melanesian and Polynesian Glaucocharis Meyrick (Lepidoptera : Crambinae : Diptychophorini)". Australian Journal of Zoology. Supplementary Series. 33 (115): 1. doi:10.1071/AJZS115. ISSN   0310-9089. Wikidata   Q54618937.
  10. 1 2 Glime, J. M. (2020). "Chapters 12-14". Bryophyte Ecology. Vol. 2 (published 19 July 2020). p. 10.
  11. 1 2 Beever, Jessica E.; Dugdale, J. S. (January 1994). "Bryological Notes: Bryophagy of Dawsonia superba Grev. by larvae of the crambid moth Glaucocharis epiphaea (Meyrick) in New Zealand". Journal of Bryology. 18 (2): 365–366. doi:10.1179/jbr.1994.18.2.365. ISSN   0373-6687.
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