Reductoderces araneosa | |
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Lectotype specimen | |
Scientific classification | |
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Species: | R. araneosa |
Binomial name | |
Reductoderces araneosa | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Reductoderces araneosa is a moth of the family Psychidae. [3] It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1914. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the lower part of the South Island. The preferred habitat of R. araneosa is on the edge of native beech forest. The larvae construct a case made from silk, moss and lichens and emerge from it to feed. The female of this species is wingless. The males of this species are on the wing in November and February and have been captured in the early morning.
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick and originally named Mallobathra araneosa. [4] [2] In 1927 Alfred Philpott discussed and illustrated the male genitalia of this species. [5] 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [6] The male lectotype specimen, collected at Ben Lomond in Otago, is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]
Hudson described the adult of this species as follows:
The expansion of the wings is considerably under 3⁄8 inch. The fore-wings are elongate, narrow with the apex round-pointed and the termen very oblique; very pale bnownish-ochreous; the basal third is faintly clouded with pale grey and there are two series of faint grey spots crossing the outer portion of the wing; the principal veins are also marked in grey. The hind-wings and cilia are very pale whitish-grey. [6]
The female of this species is wingless. [7] This species can be identified by its delicate appearance and semi-transparent forewings. [6]
This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Dunedin, in the Otago Region and at the Hump, in the Longwood Range and in the Hunter Range all in the Southland Region. [1] [6]
This species inhabits the edges of native beech forest. [6]
The larvae of this species, and of all species in the genus, create cases from silk and pieces of lichen, moss and silk. [7] When the female emerges from their larval case, she clings to it and emits a pheromone to attract a mate. [7] Hudson stated that he captured adult specimens of this species in the early morning. [8] Adults of this species are on the wing in November and February. [6]
Reductoderces microphanes is a moth of the family Psychidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. R. microphanes is a bagworm moth and its larvae likely feed on lichen or algae. Historically there has been some confusion over the identification of this species with George Hudson mistakenly describing and illustrating unnamed species and then attributing those descriptions and illustrations to this species. Charles Edwin Clarke discussed this species stating that it and its close relatives were active and able to be collected in damp mists before sunrise.
Anisoplaca ptyoptera is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found throughout the North and South Islands and prefers habitat where its host plants are common. The larval hosts of this moth are species in the genus Carmichaelia and the larvae stem mine the host plant. However larvae have also been observed feeding on gorse species and as a result their potential as a biological control for gorse has been researched. This behaviour has only been recorded in the Canterbury and Otago regions. A. ptyoptera overwinters as larvae and while in that life stage can be parasitised by species of wasp in the genera Zealachertus and Diadegma. Pupation begins in October. Adult moths are on the wing from October until May with peak emergence occurring in January. The adult moths come in two size classes and should the size of the female be in the larger class fecundity is improved. It is likely that this species has only one brood a year.
Cryptolechia semnodes is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 using a specimen collected at Mount Arthur tableland in February. It is dark in appearance and likely belongs to another genus. This species flies in bright sunshine and is likely a very local species. It is likely that this species probably belongs to another genus and as such this species is also known as Cryptolechia (s.l.) semnodes.
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 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.
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 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 eriphaea is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in Otago. This species is known to inhabit native beech forest.
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 maranta is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the lower South Island. Adults of this species are on the wing from October until January. This species perfers grass or low herb habitat. Unlike its close relatives it does not inhabit native forest.
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.
Tingena monodonta 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. This species inhabits native beech forest at altitudes of between 2500 - 3000 ft. The adults of the species are on the wing from November and December.
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 phegophylla 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 inhabits native beech forest. The adults of this species are on the wing in December.
Trachypepla ingenua is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in both the North and South Islands. This species is one of the larger in the genus Trachypepla and the colouration of the adults imitates bird droppings. The preferred habitat of T. ingenua is native forest and adults are on the wing from December to February.
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.