Opsitycha squalidella | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | O. squalidella |
Binomial name | |
Opsitycha squalidella | |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
Opsitycha squalidella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1884. This species is native to Australia and is likely adventive to New Zealand.
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1884 using several specimens collected in Melbourne and Hobart in December and named Philobota squalidella. [3] In 1939 George Hudson, thinking he was describing a new species, named it Borkhausenia morella. [4] In 2018 the species Borkhausenia morella was synonymised with O. squalidella.
Meyrick described this species as follows:
♂. 14-17 mm. Head ochreous- white. Palpi white, externally irrorated with blackish. Antennae whitish-fuscous. Thorax ochreous-white, mixed with pale ochreous. Abdomen ochreous-whitish. Legs dark fuscous, ringed with ochreous-white, posterior tibiae ochreous- whitish. Fore wings elongate, narrow, costa slightly arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin extremely obliquely rounded ; ochreous-white, irregularly mixed and suffused with light ochreous, and with a few blackish scales; a small blackish spot at base of costa, another at 1⁄4, and a larger triangular spot in middle of costa ; a black dot in disc at 1⁄3, a second obliquely before it on fold, a third in disc at 2⁄3, and a fourth on inner margin before anal angle ; an irregular blackish fascia-like blotch from costa before apex to middle of hindmargin : cilia whitish-ochreous, finely irrorated with grey, basal half narrowly barred with blackish. Hind wings grey, base paler ; cilia whitish, irrorated with grey. [3]
This species is native to Australia and likely adventive to New Zealand. [1] In Australia this species is found in central and southern New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southwestern Western Australia. [1] In New Zealand this species was first recorded in Auckland on or prior to 1939 and has also been observed in Napier. [1] It is regarded as being established in New Zealand but is scarce and local. [1]
Although the life history of this species is not known it has been hypothesised that the larvae of O. squalidella feed on leaf litter. [1]
In New Zealand adults are on the wing from October to December. [1] The adults of this species are attracted to light. [5]
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.
Tingena anaema is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at Lake Wakatipu, Invercargill and Stewart Island / Rakiura. The adults of the species are on the wing in December.
Tingena apanthes is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found on the North Island. The adults are on the wing from October to December. It appears associated with Leptospermum species and it has been hypothesised that the appearance of the adults of this species imitates faded Leptospermum leaves.
Tingena aphrontis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at altitudes between 3000 - 5000 ft at Arthur's Pass and Mount Arthur. The species lives in open alpine habitat amongst alpine vegetation. Adults of the species are on the wing in January.
Tingena brachyacma is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the south of the South Island. This species inhabits open swamps, native forest and scrubland and has been collected amongst Leptospermum. The adults of the species are on the wing in November and December.
Tingena chloritis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the South Island. Larvae of this species feed on leaf litter. The adults of this species are light flyers and are attracted to light.
Tingena chrysogramma is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. The adults of this species inhabits open scrubland and are on the wing in January and February. It has been collected via light traps and beating shrubs. During sunny days this species has been observed resting on leaves and rarely flies. It is regarded as a rare species and has a possible association with Prumnopitys ferruginea.
Tingena crotala is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found both in the North and South Islands. This species inhabits native forest and is on the wing in November and December.
Tingena epimylia is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and the South Islands. This species is similar in appearance to Tingena contextella as it too has a mottled appearance, but T. epimylia can be distinguished as it is smaller in size, slightly narrower wings, and has a more grey appearance and a grey head. This species inhabits native beech forests at altitudes between 1500 and 2000 ft and in particular has an affinity for Nothofagus solandri.
Tingena hemimochla is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island. Adults of this species are on the wing from December until March.
Tingena homodoxa is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern parts of the South Island. It inhabits open grassy slopes and is on the wing from November until January.
Tingena hoplodesma is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the North and South Islands. T. hoplodesma prefers native beech forest habitat and adults are on the wing from January to March.
Tingena horaea is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and have been observed in both the North and South Islands. The adults are on the wing in January.
Tingena letharga is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Otago. Adults are on the wing in December and January.
Tingena macarella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on both the North and South Islands. Adults of this species are on the wing from November until February. This species is attracted to light and the larvae are litter feeders.
Tingena oporaea is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Canterbury. The perferred habitat of this species is native beech forest at altitudes of 2500 ft however it has also been collected in tussock grassland. The larvae of this species are leaf litter feeders and the adults are on the wing in January and February.
Tingena oxyina is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Otago region. This species inhabits native beech forest at altitudes of between 1000 - 3000 ft. Adults of this species are on the wing in January.
Tingena siderota is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at Mount Arthur, Arthur's Pass and in the Hawkes Bay. The adults of this species are on the wing in January and are said to be abundant on the flowers of species in the genus Aciphylla.
Trachypepla anastrella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. Larvae are leaf litter feeders from the host plant Olearia fragrantissima and adults are on the wing from December until March.
Trachypepla protochlora is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest and adults are on the wing from October until February. Adults can be variable in their green shaded colour as well as in the intensity of markings on their forewings. The greenish ground colouration of this moth ensures they are well camouflaged when at rest on green mosses and lichens.