Mnesarchella dugdalei

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

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

Waitakere Ranges, type locality of M. dugdalei. Waitakere Dam & Waterfall,Waitakere Ranges.Auckland NZ. (11443878405).jpg
Waitakere Ranges, type locality of M. dugdalei.

This species was first described by George William Gibbs in 2019 and named M. dugdalei in honour of John Stewart Dugdale. [1] The male holotype was collected at Fairy Falls Track in the Waitākere Ranges by Dugdale in December and is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. [1]

Description

This species is small with pale brown forewings iridescent with brass colour tones. [1] There are two white thin lines on the forewings. [1]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and found in the Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taupo, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay regions. [2] [1]

Behaviour and habitat

Adults of this species are on the wing from October to December. [1] This species lives in damp but well lit forest sites at altitudes of between 200 m and 1300 m. [1]

Host species

As at 2019, the larvae of this species are unknown as are the larval hosts of M. dugdalei. [1]

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

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

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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

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Mnesarchella stellae is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is named in honour of Gibbs' mother Florence Stella Gibbs. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can only be found in the Nelson area for recording specimen localities as described by T. K. Crosby. This species is the largest in the Mnesarchella genus but otherwise is similar in appearance to other species contained in that genus. This species prefers very damp, dark native beech forest with plentiful moss and lives at altitudes of between 420 and 750 m. Adults of this species are on the wing in December and January.

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.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gibbs, George W.; Kristensen, Niels P. (28 May 2019). "Mnesarchaeidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand (in English and Māori). 78. Lincoln: Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research: 1–105. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.78. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q104802925. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2021.
  2. "Mnesarchella dugdalei Gibbs, 2019". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 24 August 2021.