Phycomorpha metachrysa | |
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Illustration by George Hudson | |
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Species: | P. metachrysa |
Binomial name | |
Phycomorpha metachrysa | |
Phycomorpha metachrysa, the milktree fruit moth, is a species of moth in the Copromorphidae family. [2] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the North and South Islands. The larvae feed on the fruit of species in the genus Streblus including Streblus heterophyllus. This adults of this species is on the wing from October to April.
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1914 using specimens collected by George Howes in Dunedin in November and February. [3] [4] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [5] The lectotype specimen, collected in Dunedin, is in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. [4]
Meyrick described this species as follows:
♂♀. 19-20 mm. Head pale greenish-ochreous, forehead mixed with purplish and spotted with dark fuscous. Palpi purplish-fuscous irrorated with dark fuscous, edges of second joint sprinkled with whitish, terminal joint half second, blackish, base and apex whitish. Thorax pale ochreous mixed with purplish and spotted with dark fuscous, crest olive-green. Fore-wings elongate, rather dilated posteriorly, costa slightly arched, apex rounded-obtuse, termen rounded, somewhat oblique ; dull purple sprinkled with blackish, tips of scales golden-metallic ; costa and dorsum strigulated and spotted with blackish ; basal and discal areas irregularly marked with dull greenish and black ; in one specimen a large trapezoidal whitish-ochreous blotch extending on dorsum from 1⁄4 to tornus and reaching more than half across wing, narrowed upwards ; cilia bronzy-grey barred with blackish. Hindwings and cilia grey. [3]
The wingspan is 19–20 mm. [3] Adults are dark green with raised scale-tufts on the forewings. [5] Hudson states that this species is considerably variable with some specimens having forewings that are a dull olive green colour. [4] Other specimens have a cream white patch on the dorsum which extends about halfway across the forewing. However, despite this variability this species is able to be recognised by its unusual antennae and the scale tufts on its forewings. [5]
This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. [2] [5] It has been observed in its type locality of Dunedin, at the head of Lake Wakatipu and also in the Gollan Valley of Wellington and Kaeo in Northland. [5] [6] This species has also been found in a site of ecological significance, at Decanter Bay in Canterbury, as set out in the Christchurch District Plan. [7]
The adults of this species is on the wing from October until April. [5]
The larvae feed on the fruit of Streblus species including Streblus heterophyllus . [8] [9]
Zealandopterix zonodoxa is a moth of the family Micropterigidae. It endemic to New Zealand and is found from the Hawkes Bay north as well as on Poor Knights, Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands. It is the smallest micropterigid in New Zealand and the shiny white markings on the forewing of this species are variable. It is a day flying moth, but has been collected using UV light. Adults are on the wing from September to March and the species has been witnessed visiting the flowers of Nikau and Cordyline pumilio in large numbers. It inhabits a wide variety of moist indigenous forest but is associated with forests in which podocarps are common. Larvae have been sieved from rotten wood on the floor of a mixed podocarp/broadleaf forest or extracted from moss or from bryophytes.
Sabatinca caustica is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1912. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both Southland and at Stewart Island / Rakiura. The adults of this species are variable in appearance with some specimens being mainly white on their forewings while others have forewings that are a more mottled purple-brown colour. Adults are on the wing from the start of October until the middle of December. Larvae feed on the surface of leafy liverworts.
Platyptilia campsiptera is a species of moth in the family Pterophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.
Amblyptilia epotis is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South and Stewart Islands. It inhabits mountainous terrain covered in alpine vegetation or alternatively alpine wetland habitat. The adults of this species are on the wing from February to March. In appearance the adults of this species are variable in colour however this species can be distinguished from similar species by the oblique apical streak on its forewings as well as the patch of white on the costa cilia towards the apex of the forewing.
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.
Pasiphila plinthina is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North, South and Stewart Islands. It is on the wing mainly from June until September with occasional observations up to December, and is attracted to light. This species is similar in appearance to P. sandycias but can be distinguished from it as P. plinthina has palpi that are longer and has more blurred forewing markings.
Pyrgotis eudorana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic in New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. However it is regarded as a rare insect. This species inhabits native forest. Larvae exclusively feed on Muehlenbeckia australis and adults are on the wing from November to April. Adults are attracted to light.
Hierodoris iophanes is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1912. This species can be distinguished from others in its genus by the purple metallic colouration as well as the blue-white mark on its forewings. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it has been recorded from Auckland to Southland. This species inhabits native forest or scrub, with the adults preferring open glades. They are known to be on the wing from November until February and fly during daylight hours, being active on hot sunny days. Larvae feed on the interior of twigs of Prumnopitys ferruginea. The twigs had evidence of oviposition scars of cicadas and the larvae were collected in October after reddish-brown frass indicated their location within the twigs.
Eutorna caryochroa is a species of moth in the family Depressariidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1889 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in both the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and prefer damp grassland habitat. The adults are on the wing in December and January. They are day flying moths, they frequent forest and scrub, and have a habit of basking on leaves in the sunshine. They have been collected by beating shrubbery.
Sagephora felix is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1914. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the north half of the North Island. It inhabits native forest and adults of the species are on the wing from December to May, in July and November.
Proteodes melographa is a species of moth in the family Depressariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at Mount Arthur and in the Nelson District. It inhabits forest in the alpine zone. The larvae of this species feeds on native beech trees.
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 chloradelpha is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North and South Islands. The larvae live underground forming silken tubes from which it feeds. It overwinters in these tubes and then pupates enclosed in a weak pale white silken cocoon. The adults of this species is variable in appearance both in the depth of colour as well as in its discal spots which may in some specimens be lacking. The adults are on the wing from October until the end of December and can be found inhabiting domestic gardens as well as cultivated land. They have been seen resting on window frames and can be found inside houses.
Tingena compsogramma 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. This species inhabits native forest and adults are on the win from December until March.
Tingena eumenopa is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in the North and South Islands. The adults have been found amongst tree ferns and are on the wing in December.
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 perichlora is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. This species appears to inhabit manuka scrub. Adults of this species are on the wing from October to January.
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 aspidephora 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. Adults are on the wing from November to March and are attracted to light. The moths can be found resting on tree trunks where their colouration imitates lichens.
Trachypepla lichenodes is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest and adults of this species are on the wing from November to January. The adult moths are similarly coloured to native lichen species however this colouration is variable in the extent and depth on the forewings.
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