Pyrausta comastis

Last updated

Pyrausta comastis
Pyrausta comastis female.jpg
Female
Pyrausta comastis male.jpg
Male
Status NZTCS NV.svg
Nationally Vulnerable (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Pyrausta
Species:
P. comastis
Binomial name
Pyrausta comastis
(Meyrick, 1884)
Synonyms
  • Proteroeca comastisMeyrick, 1884
  • Ennychia intrudensWarren, 1892
  • Loxostege comastis(Meyrick, 1884)

Pyrausta comastis is a moth in the family Crambidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It has been classified as "nationally vulnerable" by the Department of Conservation.

Contents

Taxonomy

It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1884 and given the name Proteroeca comastis. [1] In 1892 William Warren also described the same species but thinking it new gave it the name Ennychia intrudens. [2] This name was subsequently synonymised by Michael Shaffer. [3] George Vernon Hudson also gave a description and illustration of the species under the name Proteroeca comastis in 1928. [4] In 1988 John S. Dugdale listed the species under the genus Loxostege . [3] However the correct binomial nomenclature for this species is Pyrausta comastis. [5] [6]

Description

This species was described by Meyrick as follows:

♂︎,♀︎, 11 — 13 mm. Head, palpi, antennae, thorax, and abdomen brownish ochreous, more or less irrorated coarsely with blackish; palpi white beneath. Legs ochreous-whitish, anterior and middle tibiae irrorated with blackish above. Fore wings elongate-triangular, costa sinuate, slightly arched posteriorly, apex round-pointed, hind margin very obliquely rounded ; ochreous-whitish, suffused with reddish ochreous except in disc ; generally a dense blackish irroration (especially in male) forming a basal patch and broad fasciae following first and second lines, the last fascia separated from second line on costa by a pale spot ; lines blackish, rather thick ; first at one-third, slightly curved ; second from three-fourths of costa to three-fifths of inner margin, sinuate inwards below middle ; an irregular dark fuscous discal spot ; cilia ochreous-whitish, base more ochreous, with two dark grey lines, first interrupted. Hind wings ochreous-orange, with some scattered black scales anteriorly ; a blackish line beyond middle, sinuate inwards below costa, angulated below middle ; a blackish hind-marginal band, very narrow on lower half, gradually dilated on upper half ; cilia grey-whitish, basal half blackish. [1]

Distribution

P. comastis is endemic to New Zealand. [5] It can be found in the South Island. [6] Meyrick stated that the species could be found at Castle Hill and Christchurch. [7] Hudson added to the locality list and included Lake Rotoiti, Wedderburn and New River, near Invercargill. [4] Philpott collected the species at Red Lake in the Mount Cook district. [8] It has also been collected in the Dansey ecological district in Otago. [9] It is present at higher elevations. [6]

Life cycle and behaviour

This species life history is unknown. [6] Adults have been recorded on wing in December [9] and in January. [7]

Habitat

This species has been collected in dry grassy areas [7] and damp open habitats. [6]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "nationally vulnerable". [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Maoricrambus</i> Genus of moths

Maoricrambus is a genus of moths of the family Crambidae. It contains only one species, Maoricrambus oncobolus, which is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as Nationally Endangered by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Izatha prasophyta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Izatha prasophyta is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from the North Island, except Hawkes Bay or the Wairarapa. Larvae likely feed on rotting wood although larvae of this species have been reared on the fruiting body of the bracket fungus Bjerkandera adusta. Adults are on the wing from November to February.

<i>Heterocrossa contactella</i> Species of moth

Heterocrossa contactella is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Heterocrossa iophaea</i> Species of moth

Heterocrossa iophaea is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Amblyptilia epotis</i> Species of plume moth

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.

<i>Pasiphila plinthina</i> Species of moth

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.

<i>Culladia strophaea</i> Species of moth

Culladia strophaea is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The taxonomy of this species is currently uncertain.

<i>Pyrgotis pyramidias</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Pyrgotis pyramidias is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation. This species is regarded as having two 'forms' although doubt has been expressed whether these are the same species.

<i>Pyrgotis transfixa</i> Species of moth

Pyrgotis transfixa is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Kiwaia pumila is a moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Orocrambus sophistes</i> Species of moth

Orocrambus sophistes is a moth in the family Crambidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in South Island at the Mackenzie Basin, Central Otago and Otago Lakes areas. This moth is a dryland specialist and inhabits short tussock grasslands. The larval host species is Festuca novae-zelandiae. The adults of this species have been observed from mid January to April with the female being flightless. The adult male is attracted to light. This species has been classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.

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

Tingena loxotis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island. This species is found in gardens and are known to enter houses. Adults are on the wing in December and January. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

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

Tingena apanthes is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Tingena melanamma is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Marlborough, Otago and Southland.

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

Tingena penthalea is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Wellington and the Tararua Range. The adults of this species are on the wing from December until February.

<i>Trachypepla anastrella</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Meyrick, E. (1884). "On the classification of the Australian Pyralidina". Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 32 (3): 277–350. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.1884.tb01610.x. ISSN   1365-2311 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. ↑ Warren, William (1892). "Descriptions of new genera and species of Pyralidae contained in the British-Museum collection". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. ser.6:v.9=no.49-54 (50): 172–179. doi:10.1080/00222939208677297. ISSN   0374-5481 . Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 153. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 182.
  5. 1 2 "Pyrausta comastis Meyrick, 1884". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Hoare, R.J.B. "Introduction to Pyraloidea families and subfamilies of New Zealand". www.landcareresearch.co.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Meyrick, Edward (1885). "On the classification of the Australian Pyralidina". Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 33 (4): 421–456. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.1885.tb00895.x . Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  8. ↑ Philpott, Alfred (1930). "Lepidoptera of Mount Cook District, with description of new species". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 61: 419–440.
  9. 1 2 Patrick, B.H. (1991). Insects of the Dansey ecological district (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. ISBN   0-478-01285-3 . Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  10. ↑ Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 7. ISBN   9781988514383.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.