| Tingena armigerella | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Tingena |
| Species: | T. armigerella |
| Binomial name | |
| Tingena armigerella | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Tingena armigerella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. T. armigerella is endemic to New Zealand where it is found in the North Island. The larvae of this species feed on plant litter. It is parasitised by the parasitic wasp Fustiserphus intrudens.
It was described by Francis Walker in 1864 and named Oecophora armigerella. [3] [2] In 1915 Edward Meyrick placed this species within the Borkhausenia genus. [4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Borkhausenia armigerella. [5] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned this species to the genus Tingena. [2] In the same publication Dugdale also synonymised Tingena bifaciella with this species. [2] The holotype specimen, collected in Auckland, is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2] In 2004 the phylogenetic relationship of this species to similar species was studied. [6]
The larvae of this species are dark brown coloured. [7]
The male adult was described by Walker as follows:
Male. Gilded yellow. Palpi nearly twice longer than the breadth of the head ; second joint much curved ; third shorter than the second. Abdomen, hind wings and under side blackish cinereous. Abdomen extending a little beyond the hind wings. Hind tibiae fringed. Fore wings moderately broad, hardly acute, with many minute blackish points ; costa blackish towards the base. Hind wings blackish. Length of the body 3 lines ; of the wings 10 lines. [3]
The forewing length of the species is between 7.5 and 10 mm. [7] Although there are several other endemic to New Zealand moth species that resemble T. armigerella, this moth can be distinguished from most others by the smattering of dark scales on its mainly yellow forewings. [7]
This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] It is found throughout the North Island. [7] It is visually very similar to other yellow species of moth but differs from many of these as it has noticeable dark scales on its wings. [7] It has been hypothesised that observations of T. armigerella in the South Island result from misidentification with these visually similar yellow species. [7]
This species inhabits native forest. [7] Larvae feed on plant litter found in Nothofagaceae forest. [8] The larvae are found in between the upper layer of dry loose leaves and the lower layer of compacted moist soil. [9] They live in a shelter they construct with their silk, tying two dead leaves together. [9] The larvae then feed from this shelter. [9]
The adults of this species are on the wing from October to February. [10] They prefer to rest on tree trunks or fences and when disturbed, fall to the ground and seeks shelter in crevices or alternatively rests on their back with wings closed. [5] They are nocturnal and are attracted to light. [7]
The parasitic wasp Fustiserphus intrudens parasitises the larvae of this species. [9]
Phaeosaces coarctatella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest however they can also be found in domestic gardens. Larvae shelter in hollow twigs or under bark and emerge at night to browse on lichens. They pupate within their shelter. Adults are on the wing from September to January and are variable in their appearance. They vary both in colour, from reddish brown to a greenish yellow shade, and also in the extent of the black marking on their forewings. They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.
Planotortrix excessana, the greenheaded leafroller, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is native to New Zealand and is an introduced species in Hawaii. It is extremely variable in appearance and feeds on many native and introduced species. It is regarded as a pest of some agricultural and forestry crops.
Izatha attactella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from both the North and South Islands as far south as mid-Canterbury. Larvae of this species feed on the soft inner surface of the bark of dead trees and shrubs. Adults have been recorded from September to December.
Gymnobathra flavidella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The host plants for the larvae of this species include Brachyglottis repanda and Gahnia procera.
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.
Tingena is a genus of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae). This genus is endemic to New Zealand.
Tingena actinias is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species are leaf litter feeders. The preferred habitat of this species is shrubland and it has also been observed in gumland heaths and in beech forest.
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 apertella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in both the North and South Islands. Adults are on the wing from November to January and the species is common in beech forests at approximately 2000 ft. At rest on the ground this species appears very similar to a yellow beech leaf.
Tingena basella 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. The preferred habitat of this species is scrubland or light forest. Eggs are deposited either singly or in egg masses. The larvae are littler leaf feeders. The adults of this species are on the wing from October through to the middle of December. George Hudson stated that he had collected numerous specimens of both sexes amongst the flowers of Brachyglotis repanda.
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 contextella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has found in the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species feed on leaf litter.
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 innotella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits open native forest or scrubland and adults are on the wing from December to March. T. innotella appears to have an affinity for the silver tree fern.
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 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 nycteris 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 scrubland and adults are on the wing from October to January.
Tingena ombrodella 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 of this species are on the wing from November to January and the larvae of the species are litter feeders. This species has been found to inhabit native beech forest.
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 plagiatella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits light native bush or scrubland. Adults of this species are on the wing from November to January.
