Mnesarchella fusilella

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Mnesarchella fusilella
Mnesarchella fusilella 103392848.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Mnesarchaeidae
Genus: Mnesarchella
Species:
M. fusilella
Binomial name
Mnesarchella fusilella
(Walker, 1864)
Synonyms [1]
  • Tinea fusilellaWalker, 1864
  • Mnesarchaea fusilella(Walker, 1864)

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1864 and named Tinea fusilella. [2] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the Mnesarchaea genus. [3] In 2019 George William Gibbs and Niels Peder Kristensen undertook a review of species within the family Mnesarchaeidae and placed this species within the newly described Mnesarchella genus. [1] The male holotype specimen was collected in Auckland by Lt Col Daniel Bolton, RE, and held at the Natural History Museum, London. [3]

Description

Illustration of M. fusilella by Des Helmore. LEPI Mnesarchaeidae Mnesarchaea fusilella.png
Illustration of M. fusilella by Des Helmore.

Walker originally described the species as follows:

Male. Cupreous. Head with very short hairs. Palpi very short. Antennae smooth, rather stout, much shorter than the forewings. Abdomen extending for nearly its whole length beyond the hind wings. Legs rather long and slender Wings narrow. Forewings rounded at the tips, with a white subfusiform stripe extending from the base near the interior border to near the middle, where it is connected with a diffuse whitish band ; exterior border extremely oblique. Length of the body 3 lines ; of the wings 8 lines. [2]

Although M. fusilella is similar in appearance to M. loxoscia, it can be distinguished, as the former has white patches under its head and on parts of the forewing. [1] However specimens in Northland can be more difficult to distinguish as they can appear very similar to M. loxoscia. [1] Females can also be difficult to distinguish as their colouration may again be similar to M. loxoscia. [1]

Distribution

Mnesarchella fusilella illustrated by George Hudson Fig 23 Mnesarchella fusilella MA I437900 TePapa Plate-XXXIX-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Mnesarchella fusilella illustrated by George Hudson

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [4] It is found in the Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Whanganui, and Wellington regions. [1]

Habitat

M. fusilella prefers well lit damp forests or moist fern-covered banks. [1] It lives at altitudes ranging from sea-level to approximately 500 m. [1]

Behaviour

Adults of this species are on the wing from October to December. [1] This species is normally day flying but males have been collected at night via light trapping. [1] Males fly more frequently than females and mating has been observed before midday. [1]

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>Phaeosaces coarctatella</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Phaeosaces coarctatella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest however they can also be found in domestic gardens. Larvae shelter in hollow twigs or under bark and emerge at night to browse on lichens. They pupate within their shelter. Adults are on the wing from September to January and are variable in their appearance. They vary both in colour, from reddish brown to a greenish yellow shade, and also in the extent of the black marking on their forewings. They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.

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

Sabatinca chalcophanes is a moth of the family Micropterigidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island apart from Northland and in the South Island apart from in the east, south of Queen Charlotte Sound. The adults of this species are on the wing from November to April and as a result of this long period it has been hypothesised that this species has two broods. The preferred habitat of this species is in damp lowland forest. The larval host species are foliose liverwort species including Hymenophyton flabellatum.

<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>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>Proteuxoa comma</i> Species of moth

Proteuxoa comma is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in the lower half of the North Island and throughout the South Island, although it appears to be more frequent on the eastern side of these islands, and also is present in Stewart Island. P. comma is very similar in appearance to P. tetronycha but can be distinguished as it is a larger moth with slightly different colouration on, as well as shape of, its forewings. This species pupates in the soil. The adult moths are on the wing from December to April. P. comma may possibly be declining in population and as at 2017 a reassessment of its conservation status is regarded as being needed.

<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 to 800 m. Adults of this species are on the wing in December.

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.

<i>Physetica temperata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Physetica temperata is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in the North Island and the top of the South Island in coastal areas. P. temperata is unlikely to be confused with other species in its range, even though it is not distinctively patterned. It is possible that males might be confused with males of P. homoscia but this latter species is much larger. P. temperata can be distinguished from P. caerulea as the former species has forewing veins that are marked black and a chequered forewing fringe. The adults of this species are on the wing from September to March. The life history of this species has not been well documented although it is thought that larval host species is Ozothamnus leptophyllus.

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

Tingena basella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in both the North and South Islands. The preferred habitat of this species is scrubland or light forest. Eggs are deposited either singly or in egg masses. The larvae are littler leaf feeders. The adults of this species are on the wing from October through to the middle of December. George Hudson stated that he had collected numerous specimens of both sexes amongst the flowers of Brachyglotis repanda.

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

Tingena collitella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Auckland.

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

Tingena innotella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits open native forest or scrubland and adults are on the wing from December to March. T. innotella appears to have an affinity for the silver tree fern.

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

Tingena terrena is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Otago. The adults of this species are on the wing in December.

<i>Asaphodes oxyptera</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Asaphodes oxyptera is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is only found in the Auckland Islands.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 George W. Gibbs; Niels Peder Kristensen (28 May 2019). Mnesarchaeidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea) (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand (in English and Māori). Vol. 78. Lincoln: Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. pp. 1–105. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.78. ISBN   978-0-947525-60-6. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q104802925. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 Francis Walker (1864), List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. XXX: Tineites, London, p. 1008, Wikidata   Q108264250
  3. 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: 55. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  4. ↑ "Mnesarchella fusilella (Walker, 1864)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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