Tingena epichalca

Tingena epichalca
	Lectotype
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Oecophoridae
Genus:	Tingena
Species:	T. epichalca
Binomial name
	Tingena epichalca; (Meyrick, 1886)
Synonyms
	Cremnogenes epichalcaMeyrick, 1886 ; Borkhausenia epichalca(Meyrick, 1886) ;

Last updated November 11, 2022

Tingena epichalca is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae.^[2] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at Arthur's Pass and in the mountains around Otira. This species is very similar in appearance to Tingena aphrontis but can be distinguished on the basis of different antennal ciliations of the male of the species. Adults are on the wing in January and inhabit alpine zones, frequenting alpine vegetation on the edge of screes at altitudes of between 3 – 4000 ft.

Taxonomy

This species was originally described by Edward Meyrick in 1886 using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass in January and named Cremnogenes epichalca.^[3] In 1915 Meyrick discussed this species under the name Borkhausenia epichalca.^[4] In 1926 Alfred Philpott discussed and illustrated the genitalia of the male of this species.^[5] In 1928 George Hudson also discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.^[6] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Tingena .^[2] The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[2]

Description

Meyrick described this species as follows:

♂12-15 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax shining bronzy-ochreous. Antennae dark bronzy-fuscous, ciliations 2+1⁄2, whorled. Abdomen dark bronzy-grey. Legs bronzy-ochreous, anterior pair suffused with grey. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin very obliquely rounded ; shining bronzy-ochreous, usually without markings ; rarely a dot on fold, a second in disc beyond middle, and a posterior transverse angulated line obscurely grey : cilia pale bronzy-ochreous. Hindwings grey, with purplish reflections ; cilia pale greyish-ochreous.^[3]

This species is very similar in appearance to Tingena aphrontis but can be distinguished on the basis of different antennal ciliations of the male of the species.^[3] The species varies in depth of colouration.^[6]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at its type locality of Arthur's Pass.^[1]^[3] It has also been observed in the mountains around Otira at altitudes of approximately 3000 ft.^[6]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing in January.^[6]

Habitat

This species inhabits alpine zones and is associated with alpine vegetation on the boarder of scree slopes at altitudes of between 3000 and 4000 ft.^[6]

Related Research Articles

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Tingena aphrontis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at altitudes between 3000 - 5000 ft at Arthur's Pass and Mount Arthur. The species lives in open alpine habitat amongst alpine vegetation. Adults of the species are on the wing in January.

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 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 falsiloqua is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the North Island. This species frequents subalpine native forest.

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Tingena idiogama is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed on the slopes of Mount Taranaki. Its preferred habitat is native subalpine scrub and 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.

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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 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 paratrimma is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the lower parts of the South Island. George Hudson regarded this species are uncommon. The adults of this species are on the wing from November to February.

Tingena pharmactis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Nelson, Tasman and Wellington regions. The adults of this species are on the wing in December.

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.

Tingena robiginosa 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. It has been observed in subalpine habitats at altitudes of between 2700 and 3500 ft amongst Hebe and Cassinia species. The adults of this species are on the wing in December and January.

Tingena thalerodes is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found at Arthur's Pass. This species inhabits rough herbage on mountain sides. Adults are on the wing in December and January.

Tingena xanthomicta 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 scrub on hillsides and appears to be attracted to Coprosma areolata. Adults are on the wing from November until February.

References

1 2 Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 462. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
1 2 3 4 John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 101. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
1 2 3 4 E. Meyrick (1886). "Descriptions of Australian Micro-Lepidoptera: Part XII Oecophoridae (continued)". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 10: 793. doi:10.5962/BHL.PART.17965. ISSN 0370-047X. Wikidata Q56010159.
↑ E. Meyrick (12 July 1915). "Revision of New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47: 213. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63123349.
↑ Alfred Philpott (1926). "List of New Zealand species of Borkhausenia (Oecophoridae: Lepidoptera), including new species". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand . 56: 399–413. ISSN 1176-6166. Wikidata Q110157185.
1 2 3 4 5 George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, p. 267, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286

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[NZIB-1] 1 2 Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 462. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.

[Dugdale1988-2] 1 2 3 4 John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 101. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.

[Meyrick1886-3] 1 2 3 4 E. Meyrick (1886). "Descriptions of Australian Micro-Lepidoptera: Part XII Oecophoridae (continued)". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 10: 793. doi:10.5962/BHL.PART.17965. ISSN 0370-047X. Wikidata Q56010159.

[Meyrick1915-4] E. Meyrick (12 July 1915). "Revision of New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47: 213. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63123349.

[Philpott1926-5] Alfred Philpott (1926). "List of New Zealand species of Borkhausenia (Oecophoridae: Lepidoptera), including new species". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand . 56: 399–413. ISSN 1176-6166. Wikidata Q110157185.

[Hudson1928-6] 1 2 3 4 5 George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, p. 267, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286

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