Zapyrastra stellata

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Zapyrastra stellata
Zapyrastra stellata (Philpott, 1931) (AM AMNZ21756-1).jpg
Holotype specimen
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Momphidae
Genus: Zapyrastra
Species:
Z. stellata
Binomial name
Zapyrastra stellata
Philpott, 1931 [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Elachista stellataPhilpott, 1931

Zapyrastra stellata is a species of moth of the family Momphidae first described by Alfred Philpott in 1931. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Otago. The larvae of this species mine the leaves of Muehlenbeckia. Adults are on the wing in June and December.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1931 using a specimen collected by Charles E. Clarke in Wānaka (previously known as Pembroke) in December. [3] [2] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Zapyrastra. [2] The male holotype specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. [2] In 2019 Lauri Kaila placed this species in the genus Mompha stating "Current status: Mompha (as Zapyrastra) stellata (Philpott, 1931) (Momphidae); Dugdale (1988)". [4]

Description

This species was described by Philpott as follows:

♂. 7.5 mm. Head, antennae, thorax and abdomen bronzy brown. Palpi bronzy brown mixed with whitish. Legs bronzy brown, tibial spines on posterior pair white. Forewings with costa subsinuate, apex rounded, termen very oblique; bronzy brown; a large snow-white spot on costa at 5⁄6 reaching halfway across wing: fringes fuscous grey. Hindwings and fringes greyish fuscous. [3]

This species can be distinguished from other species with a similar appearance as it has a prominent white costal patch. [3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [2] Along with the type locality of Wānaka, this species has also been observed in Richmond Valley in Otago. [5]

Behaviour

As well as being collected in December, this species has been observed in flight in June. [3] [6]

Host species

Host species, M complexa. Muehlenbeckia complexa in flower T2i IMG 104 1452.jpg
Host species, M complexa.

The larvae of this species mine Meuhlenbeckia leaves including Meuhlenbeckia complexa . [6] [5] [7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Zapyrastra stellata (Philpott, 1931)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 87. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Alfred Philpott (1931). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 62: 31. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q109466059.
  4. ↑ Lauri Kaila (11 July 2019). "An annotated catalogue of Elachistinae of the World (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae)". Zootaxa . 4632 (1): 181. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4632.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   31712495. Wikidata   Q86984314.
  5. 1 2 "Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review. Cluden Station. Conservation Resources Report - Part 1" (PDF). www.linz.govt.nz. 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 Graeme White (1991). "The Changing Abundance of Moths in a Tussock Grassland, 1962- 1989, and 50-Year to 70-Year Trends" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Ecology . 15 (1): 18. ISSN   0110-6465. JSTOR   24054454. Wikidata   Q107569572.
  7. ↑ Brian H. Patrick (2021). "Indigenous hostplants of New Zealand's endemic Lepidoptera". Canterbury Botanical Society Journal. 52: 4–28. Wikidata   Q110121933.
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