Hendecasticha

Hendecasticha
Illustration of male H. aethaliana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Tortricidae
Subfamily:	Olethreutinae
Genus:	Hendecasticha Meyrick, 1881
Species:	H. aethaliana
Binomial name
Hendecasticha aethaliana Meyrick, 1881 [1]

Hendecasticha is a genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Olethreutinae of the family Tortricidae. ^[1] This genus was described by Edward Meyrick in 1881. It consists of only one species, ^[2] Hendecasticha aethaliana, which is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been observed in both the North and South Islands and inhabits damp or swampy grassland or scrub. The larval host of this species is likely grass species. Adults are on the wing from October until January.

Taxonomy

Both the genus and the species H. aethaliana were first described by Edward Meyrick in 1881. ^[3] For the scientific description of H. aethaliana Meyrick used specimens collected in Hamilton on the banks of the Waikato in January. ^[4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. ^[5] The lectotype specimen of the species is found at the Natural History Museum, London. ^[3]

Description

Meyrick described the genus Hendecasticha as follows:

Thorax smooth. Antennae in male ciliated, with an excavated notch near base. Palpi moderate, porrected, second joint densely rough-haired above and below, terminal joint nearly concealed. Posterior tibiae fringed with hairs above. Forewings elongate, narrow, costa in male with a basal fold, nearly straight, hindmargin sinuate. Hindwings elongate-trapezoidal, broader than forewings. Forewings with 11 veins, vein 7 running to costa, secondary cell indicated, upper basal fork of vein 1 nearly obsolete. Hindwings with veins 3 and 4 coincident, 5 approximated to 4 at base, 6 and 7 stalked. ^[4]

Meyrick described the species H. aethaliana as follows:

♂ ♀ . 3+3⁄4"-4+3⁄4". Head, palpi, thorax, and abdomen dark fuscous, sprinkled with ashy-whitish. Antennae dark fuscous, in male notched a little above basal joint. Legs whitish-grey, all tibia; and tarsi suffusedly banded with dark fuscous-grey. Fore-wings narrow, costa hardly arched, hindmargin slightly sinuate, very oblique ; dark fuscous, coarsely irrorated with grey and ashy- whitish scales, especially on basal half and before apex, tending to form irregular transverse lines ; sometimes there is an irregular ochreous suffusion towards inner margin before middle, and above anal angle : cilia dark fuscous sprinkled at base with ashy-whitish. Hindwings dark fuscous; cilia dark fuscous, with a blackish line at base. ^[4]

Distribution and habitat

H. aethaliana is endemic to New Zealand. ^[6] It has been observed in the North Island, including at Waimarino, as well as in the South Island, including at Mount Grey and the Takitimu Mountains. ^[7] C. E. Clarke also collected this species at Maungatua in Otago and in the Takitimu Mountains in Southland. ^{[8] [9]} This species inhabits damp or swampy grassland or scrub. ^{[4] [5]} It is regarded as being a rare species. ^[9]

Behaviour

Adults of H. aethaliana are on the wing from October until January. ^{[10] [5]}

Host species

The larval hosts of H. aethaliana are likely to be grass species. ^[11]

References

1. 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.
2. "Hendecasticha Meyrick, 1881". www.nzor.org.nz. 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
3. 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: 115. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
4. E. Meyrick (1881). "Descriptions of Australian Micro-Lepidoptera". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales (in English and English). 6: 692. doi:10.5962/BHL.PART.11888. ISSN   0370-047X. Wikidata   Q56007561. BHL page 3344288 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
5. Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 245, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . BHL page 61899856
6. "Hendecasticha aethaliana Meyrick, 1881". www.nzor.org.nz. 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
7. George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 436, OCLC   9742724, Wikidata   Q109420935 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
8. "Hendecasticha aethaliana Meyrick, 1881". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
9. Clarke, Charles E. (February 1933). "The Lepidoptera of the Te Anau-Manapouri Lakes Districts". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 63 (2): 123. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q62934927.
10. "Hendecasticha aethaliana Meyrick, 1881". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
11. Charles, J. G.; Dugdale, J. S. (February 2011). "Non-target species selection for host-range testing of Mastrus ridens". New Zealand Entomologist. 34 (1): 45–51. doi:10.1080/00779962.2011.9722208. ISSN   0077-9962. Wikidata   Q54666011.