Schiffermuelleria orthophanes

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Schiffermuelleria orthophanes
Fig 17 MA I437627 TePapa Plate-XXVIII-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration of male
Status NZTCS NC.svg
Nationally Critical (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification
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S. orthophanes
Binomial name
Schiffermuelleria orthophanes
(Meyrick, 1905) [2]
Synonyms [3]
  • Compsistis orthophanesMeyrick, 1905

Schiffermuelleria orthophanes is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Contents

Taxonomy

In 1905 Edward Meyrick described this species and named it Compsistis orthophanes. [4] He used specimens he collected in Nelson and Auckland in December and January. [4] The type specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [3] Meyrick subsequently placed it within the European genus Schiffermuelleria with George Vernon Hudson discussing the species under this name in 1928. [5] This endemic New Zealand species likely belongs to a separate genus. [6] Robert J. B. Hoare has proposed a Hierodoris group to include this species but further work is needed to determine the correct genus in which to place this moth. [6] As such the species is currently also known as Schiffermuelleria (s.l.) orthophanes. [2]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

9-10 mm. Head, antennae, and thorax dark bronzy-fuscous. Palpi rather dark fuscous, internally whitish-ochreous, terminal joint as long as second. Abdomen dark fuscous, apex whitish-ochreous. Fore-wings elongate, narrow, costa gently arched, apex round-pointed, termen very obliquely rounded ; fuscous, slightly purplish-tinged, irrorated with dark fuscous and blackish ; a straight rather narrow fascia at 14, a small spot in middle of disc, and opposite subcostal and subdorsal spots at 34 pale ochreous-yellow, irregular-edged : cilia fuscous, mixed with dark fuscous towards base. Hind-wings dark fuscous ; cilia fuscous, with dark fuscous basal shade. [4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [2] It has been collected in Auckland, [4] Waimarino, [7] Wellington, North Brother Island, Stephens Island, Nelson, and Southland. [8]

Biology and habitat

Little is known of the biology of this species. [8] It has been hypothesised that larvae may subsist on litter or twigs. [8] The adult moths appear from September to March. [7] Hudson noted that, although previously regarded as rare, in the years surrounding 1928 the species had become more common. [7] Earlier records indicate the species inhabited modified and suburban localities. [5] [7]

Conservation status

In 2017 this moth was classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical and data poor. [1]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 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. 5. ISBN   9781988514383.
  2. 1 2 3 "Schiffermuelleria orthophanes (Meyrick, 1905)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 98. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Meyrick, Edward (1905). "Notes on New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 1905: 219–244 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. 1 2 Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 28. ISBN   0478218672.
  6. 1 2 Hoare, Robert J. B. (2005). "Hierodoris (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae), and overview of Oecophoridae" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. Lincoln, Canterbury, NZ.: Manaaki Whenua Press. 54: 1–102. ISSN   0111-5383 . Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 260.
  8. 1 2 3 Kerry-Jayne Wilson; Alastair Freeman (1993). A report on a visit to North Brother Island, Cook Strait, 6-11 February 1993 (Report). Lincoln University. p. 6. hdl:10182/4172.