Glaucocharis leucoxantha

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Glaucocharis leucoxantha
Glaucocharis leucoxantha female.jpg
Female
Glaucocharis leucoxantha male.jpg
Male
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. leucoxantha
Binomial name
Glaucocharis leucoxantha
(Meyrick, 1882) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Diptychophora leucoxanthaMeyrick, 1882
  • Pareromene leucoxantha(Meyrick, 1882)

Glaucocharis leucoxantha is a moth in the family Crambidae. [1] It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species inhabits native forest. Hudson states this species can be met with in South Island native beech forests at elevations of from 1,500 to 2,500 feet above the sea-level. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults are on the wing from November until February. This species is very variable in colouration and can be confused with G. lepidella. However it is smaller in size and the crescent shaped spot on its forewings is white or yellow rather than the silver of G. lepidella.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1882 and named Diptychophora leucoxantha. [3] Meyrick gave a fuller description of this species in 1883 and explained he based his description on one specimen collected in January near Lake Wakatipu. [4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [5] In 1929 Alfred Philpott studied the male genitalia of this species. [6] In 1971 David Gaskin placed this species in the genus Pareromene. [7] However in 1985 Gaskin recognised that Glaucocharis must take precedence over Pareromene and placed G. leucoxantha into that genus. [8] The male holotype specimen, collected by R. W. Fereday, is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]

Description

Female showing variation in colour. Glaucocharis leucoxantha female2.jpg
Female showing variation in colour.
Female showing variation in colour. Glaucocharis leucoxantha female3.jpg
Female showing variation in colour.

Meyrick described this species as follows:

Female.—19 mm. Head and thorax light orange-ochreous. Palpi ochreous-orange, base, apex and upper surface mixed with dark fuscous. Antenne whitish-ochreous. Abdomen ochreous-whitish, posteriorly suffused with grey. Legs whitish-ochreous. Forewings triangular, very broad posteriorly, costa very gently arched, apex rounded, hindmargin oblique, sinuations moderate ; light ochreous-orange, becoming deeper orange posteriorly, especially towards apex; transverse lines obsolete, second faintly perceptible, slightly darker, sinuate and outwards-curved, from about 34 of costa to 45 of inner margin ; a comparatively rather large oval snow-white spot in dise beyond middle, suffusedly margined with dark fuscous, anterior extremity produced upwards into a blunt tooth ; a transverse series of eight very short slender longitudinal leaden-metallic streaks on second line, second and third from costa considerably longer than the rest: cilia ochreous-white, with a dark grey spot at apex and another at anal angle, and a deep grey brassy-metallic basal line. Hindwings white, towards hindmargin faintly yellowish-tinged ; cilia white. [4]

The forewing colouration of this species is extremely variable. [7] This species is similar in appearance to G. lepidella but is smaller in size and the crescent shaped spot on its forewings is white or yellow rather than the silver of G. lepidella. [9] Gaskin stated the silvery veins in the subterminal region of the forewing are also diagnostic. [7]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [10] It is found in the North, South Islands and Stewart at lowland to subalpine altitudes. [7]

Habitat and hosts

Living G. leucoxantha. Glaucocharis leucoxantha 311811744.jpg
Living G. leucoxantha.

G. leucoxantha inhabits native forest. Hudson stated that he had observed this species in the South Island in native beech forests at elevations of from 1,500 to 2,500 feet above the sea-level. [5] Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. [11]

Behaviour

Adults are on the wing from November to February. [7] This species rests with the wings drawn backwards and flat forming a triangle; the fore- and intermediate legs are extended and the antennae placed close together along the midback. Hudson pointed out that the rich orange-brown colouring on the forewing resembles that of a faded leaf. [5]

Related Research Articles

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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>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 endemic to New Zealand

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 moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis auriscriptella, also known as the yellow silverling or silver marked yellow, 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 lepidella</i> Species of moth

Glaucocharis lepidella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1866. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Island. The species inhabits lowland to subalpine native forest. Larvae may feed on mosses. Adults are on the wing from November to February and are attracted to light.

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

Glaucocharis epiphaea is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. 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.

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

Glaucocharis harmonica is a moth in the family Crambidae. This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. It inhabits lowland to subalpine native forest. It has been hypothesised that there are two broods per year. The larval hosts are unknown. Adults are on the wing from October until January.

<i>Glaucocharis helioctypa</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis helioctypa is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand and is only found in the South Island. It can be found throughout the South Island and inhabits native forest in lowland to subalpine altitudes. It has an affinity for damp grassy open situations near native forest or scrub. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults are on the wing from November until February. It is dayflying and has been observed flying low over cushion bogs and moss fields. Adults have also been observed flying actively in the hottest sunshine.

<i>Glaucocharis holanthes</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis holanthes is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. This species inhabits native forest or scrub and frequents rock-faces where moss grows. It is apparently attached to places having an exceptionally heavy rainfall. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults are on the wing from November to February. It flies very rapidly in hot sunshine and is an elusive insect to catch.

<i>Glaucocharis interruptus</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis interruptus is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was first described by Cajetan von Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. This species inhabits native forest and scrub at lowland and subalpine altitudes. It has been observed in scrub in river valleys or in mountain ravines. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults can be distinguished from similar appearing species by the Y-shaped reniform. They are on the wing from October to March and it is likely this species has two broods a year.

<i>Glaucocharis metallifera</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis metallifera is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern half of the North Island and the northern half of the South Island. It inhabits native forest at lowland and subalpine altitudes and frequents banks of streams flowing through dense forest clad valleys. The larval host is moss and the larvae are very active and live in galleries in wet moss, on logs or stones in the forest. Adults are on the wing from October to February. It has been hypothesised that this species has two broods per year. Adults have been collected via netting at dusk.

<i>Glaucocharis microdora</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis microdora is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1905. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern parts of the North Island and the north and central parts of the South Island. It inhabits native forest at lowland to subalpine altitudes. The larvae of this species feeds on moss and adults are on the wing from November until February. It is similar in appearance to G. pyrsophanes but can be distinguished as G. microdora is of a smaller size and has bright yellow markings. It also lacks the broad white bars on forewings of G. pyrophanes.

<i>Glaucocharis parorma</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis parorma is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1924. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island. This species inhabits native forest from lowland to subalpine altitudes. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults are on the wing from October to February. This species is very similar in appearance to G. elaina but can be distinguished as a result of the black terminal dots on its forewings.

<i>Glaucocharis planetopa</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis planetopa is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1923. It is endemic to New Zealand and has only be observed on the South Island. G. planetopa inhabits native forest. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults are on the wing in January and February. As at 1971 the female of this species had yet to be collected.

<i>Glaucocharis pyrsophanes</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis pyrsophanes is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country including the North, South and Stewart Islands. It inhabits native forest from lowland and subalpine altitudes. It is said to be common in sunny but damp forest openings. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults are on the wing from October until February. They are known to feed from and pollinate Leptospermum scoparium and Helichrysum selago.

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

Glaucocharis stella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1938. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island. Meyrick hypothesised that larvae of G. stella feed on moss. Adults are on the wing in October and November. The colouration of the forewings ensure that when resting with closed wings on rocks adults are highly camouflaged.

<i>Glaucocharis selenaea</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Glaucocharis selenaea is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country from Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands to Southland including the Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands. It inhabits native forest from lowland to subalpine altitudes. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults are on the wing from October until January and are attracted to light. It can be distinguished from the similar appearing G. metallifera as G. selenaea is smaller in size, the diagonal shaped band, the small round white discal spot and the black-marked veins in the near the end of the forewings.

<i>Antiscopa acompa</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Antiscopa acompa is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1884. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found both the North and South Islands. The species inhabits native forest and adult moths are attracted to light.

References

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  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: 145. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
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  4. 1 2 Edward Meyrick (May 1883). "Descriptions of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. I and II. Crambidae and Tortricina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 15: 15. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q111013914. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
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  8. 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.
  9. Robert Hoare (2014). A Photographic Guide to Moths & Butterflies of New Zealand. Illustrator: Olivier Jean-Philippe Ball. p. 71. ISBN   978-1-86966-399-5. Wikidata   Q59396160.
  10. "Glaucocharis leucoxantha (Meyrick, 1882)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  11. Carey Knox (2024). Butterflies & Moths of Aotearoa New Zealand. John Beaufoy Publishing. p. 25. ISBN   978-1-913679-66-8. Wikidata   Q130640046.