Mnesarchaea hudsoni

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Mnesarchaea hudsoni
Mnesarchaea hudsoni 189384267.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Mnesarchaeidae
Genus: Mnesarchaea
Species:
M. hudsoni
Binomial name
Mnesarchaea hudsoni
Gibbs, 2019 [1]

Mnesarchaea hudsoni is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. [1] This species was first described by George William Gibbs in 2019, and is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington regions. This species inhabits cool, damp parts of native forest or lives alongside waterways and can be found at altitudes ranging from sea-level up to 800 m. Adults of this species are on the wing from February to April. M. hudsoni is very similar in appearance to its near relatives M. fusca and M. fallax but can be distinguished via differences in male genitalia.

Contents

Taxonomy

M. hudsoni illustrated by George Hudson. Fig 2 Plate L The butterflies & moths of New Zealand 1928 (cropped).jpg
M. hudsoni illustrated by George Hudson.
Otari-Wilton's Bush, the type locality of M. hudsoni Otari Native Botanic Garden (6709125829).jpg
Ōtari-Wilton's Bush, the type locality of M. hudsoni

This species was first described by George William Gibbs in 2019 and named Mnesarchaea hudsoni in honour of George Hudson. [2] The holotype specimen was collected at Ōtari-Wilton's Bush in Wellington in March 1922 by George Hudson and is held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. [2]

Description

M. hudsoni is a small moth with a dark brown appearance with ochreous coloured scales scattered over the forewings. [2] The antennae of the adult of this species is ochreous yellow and the forewings are greater than 3.4 mm in length. [2] This species is very similar in appearance to its near relatives M. fusca and M. fallax. [2] However the genitalia of M. hudsoni is quite distinct. [2] M. hudsoni also inhabits a range that does not overlap with M. fusca. [2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [3] This species is found in the Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington regions. [2]

Habitat

This species prefers to live in cool shaded areas either deep in native forest or alongside rivers and streams. [2] It can be found at altitudes ranging from 800 m down to sea level. [2]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing from February to April. [2] This is a later flight season than its near relatives and can assist in distinguishing this species. [2]

Related Research Articles

Mnesarchaeoidea is a superfamily of "New Zealand primitive moths" containing one family, Mnesarchaeidae, and a two genera, Mnesarchaea and Mnesarchella, both of which are endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Mnesarchaea</i> Genus of moths, endemic to New Zealand

Mnesarchaea is a genus of "New Zealand primitive moths" in the family Mnesarchaeidae. This genus is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Izatha attactella</i> Species of moth

Izatha attactella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from both the North and South Islands as far south as mid-Canterbury. Larvae of this species feed on the soft inner surface of the bark of dead trees and shrubs. Adults have been recorded from September to December.

<i>Izatha austera</i> Species of moth

Izatha austera is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The larvae of this species feed on dead wood by tunnelling into branches of its host species. The larvae matures from September and is on the wing in the months of December to January. The adult moth is variable in colouration but is seldom observed.

<i>Izatha apodoxa</i> Species of moth

Izatha apodoxa is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from scattered localities in the southern North Island. This species is variable in appearance and comes in two forms, a grey form and a black and white form. In the grey form it is very similar in appearance to I. notodoxa and in the black and white form to I. katadiktya. At present the larvae and biology of this species is unknown.

<i>Izatha hudsoni</i> Species of moth

Izatha hudsoni is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is widespread throughout the North Island.

<i>Mnesarchella acuta</i> Moth species in family Mnesarchaeidae

Mnesarchella acuta is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It was described by Alfred Philpott in 1929, and is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the Rangitikei, Wellington, Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Buller, Westland, Kaikōura and north Canterbury regions. It is very similar in appearance to M. hamadelpha. This species lives in a variety of damp habitats in forests or near waterways that are not exposed to all day sunlight and can be found at altitudes ranging from sea-level up to 900 m. Adults are day flying and are on the wing from October to January.

<i>Mnesarchaea fallax</i> Moth species in family Mnesarchaeidae

Mnesarchaea fallax is a species of primitive moth in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in the Taranaki, Taupo, Nelson and Buller regions. It lives in a variety of habitats such as beech forest clearings, native podocarp forest, red tussock grasslands as well as in flax wetlands and at higher altitudes of up to 1300m. Much of the life history of this species is unknown and as at 2021 the host plants of this species have yet to be confirmed. The adult moths are on the wing from October to December. This species is classified as "Not Threatened" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Mnesarchaea fusca</i> Moth species in family Mnesarchaeidae

Mnesarchaea fusca is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1922, and is endemic to New Zealand. The larvae of the species is bright green when young but turns a brownish green when mature. Adults of this species are small and dark brown with patches of reddish yellow on its forewings. This species is found in Nelson and Marlborough Sounds. It inhabits poorly lit forest ravines and gullies or areas near shaded waterways. Adults are on the wing between December and February.

<i>Mnesarchella fusilella</i> Moth species in family Mnesarchaeidae

Mnesarchella fusilella is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Whanganui, and Wellington regions. It prefers well lit damp forests or moist fern-covered banks and lives at altitudes ranging from sea-level to approximately 500 m. Adults are on the wing from October to December. This species is normally day flying but males have been collected at night via light trapping.

<i>Mnesarchella loxoscia</i> Moth species in family Mnesarchaeidae

Mnesarchella loxoscia is a species of primitive moth in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. and is found in the Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taupo, Gisborne, Rangitikei, Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds regions. Adults of this species are normally on the wing from December and January but can be on the wing as early as October.

<i>Mnesarchella hamadelpha</i> Moth species in family Mnesarchaeidae

Mnesarchella hamadelpha is a species of primitive moth in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the Wellington, Marlborough Sounds, Marlborough and Nelson regions. It is frequently found at altitudes of between 800 and 1400m but can be found as low as approximately 400 m. It is often found in damp moss covered but well lit native forest. This species is very similar in appearance to M. acuta. However although M. hamadelpha is present in the same locations as M. acuta, it is usually found at higher altitudes or at later times in the year. Adults are on the wing from November to February.

<i>Mnesarchaea paracosma</i> Moth species in family Mnesarchaeidae

Mnesarchaea paracosma is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the Kaikōura, mid and south Canterbury, MacKenzie, Otago Lakes, Central Otago, Dunedin, Fiordland and Southland areas. M. paracosma lives in a wide variety of habitats including tussock grasslands, shrubland, and damp native beech or podocarp forests, at a range of altitudes from around sea-level up to 1200 m. Adults of this species are on the wing from October to February and are day flying, although they are attracted to light at night.

<i>Tatosoma agrionata</i> Species of moth

Tatosoma agrionata, also known as the mistletoe carpet moth, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae first described by Francis Walker in 1862. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as at risk, declining by the Department of Conservation.

Building consent authorities (BCAs) are officials who enforce New Zealand's regulatory building control system. The New Zealand Building Act 2004 sets out a registration and accreditation scheme and technical reviews. The Act creates operational roles for BCAs.

<i>Mnesarchella dugdalei</i> Moth species in family Mnesarchaeidae

Mnesarchella dugdalei is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. This species was first described by George William Gibbs in 2019, and is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found in the Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taupō, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay regions. M. dugdalei lives in damp but well lit forest sites at altitudes of between 200 m and 1300 m. Adults of this species are on the wing from October to December.

Mnesarchella falcata is a species of primitive moth in the family Mnesarchaeidae. This species was first described by George William Gibbs in 2019, and is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in the Waikato, Taupō, Hawke's Bay and Rangitīkei regions

Mnesarchella ngahuru is a species of primitive moth in the family Mnesarchaeidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the Taupō, Gisborne and Wellington regions.

Mnesarchella philpotti is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has only be found in Fiordland. This species can be distinguished from its close relatives in the genus Mnesarchella as the patterns present on its forewing are different as is the male genitalia of this species. This species lives in southern beech forest and shrubland, where periphyton is plentiful, in the subalpine zone at altitudes of between 380 and 800 m. Adults of this species are on the wing in December.

Mnesarchella vulcanica is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the Taranaki, Taupō, Gisborne and Rangitīkei regions. It very similar in appearance to others within its genus. This species is most easily confused with M. falcata. M. vulcanica can only be distinguished by dissection and its differently shaped male genitalia. It lives in damp mountainous beech and podocarp forests at altitudes of between from 800 to 1400 m and is on the wing from December to February.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mnesarchaea hudsoni Gibbs, 2019". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Gibbs, George William; Kristensen, Niels Peder (28 May 2019). "Mnesarchaeidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea)". Fauna of New Zealand. 78: 1–105. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.78.
  3. "Mnesarchaea hudsoni Gibbs, 2019". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.