Biology:Circoxena ditrocha
| Circoxena ditrocha | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | Blastodacnidae
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| Genus: | Circoxena
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| Species: | C. ditrocha
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| Binomial name | |
| Circoxena ditrocha Meyrick, 1916[2]
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Circoxena ditrocha is a species of moth in the family Blastodacnidae.[3] This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected on both the North and South Islands. The habitat of this species is on the edges of native forest or scrub and it may be associated withPseudopanax arboreus. As at 2000 the host species of this moth is unknown but it has been hypothesised that the larvae are seed borers. Adults are on the wing in December to March. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1916 using a specimen collected by George Hudson at Wainuiomata in December.[4] Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[5] In 1973 John S. Dugdale discussed the species and illustrated the wing venation as well as the genitalia of both the male and female.[6] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[7]
Description
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Meyrick described this species as follows:
♀︎. 11 mm. Head dark shining bronze. Palpi and antennae white lined with black. Thorax dark bronzy-fuscous, external edge of patagia white. Abdomen dark grey. Forewings elongate-lanceolate, fuscous, suffusedly streaked longitudinally with blackish ; a fine white longitudinal line just beneath costa on basal fourth, costal edge black ; dorsum white towards base ; a light yellow-ochreous patch occupying basal third of wing from near costa to fold, marked with three fine whitish longitudinal lines diverging from base ; two large fine whitish rings in disc before middle and about 2⁄3 ; a small black apical spot preceded by some whitish suffusion : cilia on costa dark grey, basal half barred with ochreous-whitish, on termen ochreous-whitish tinged with grey towards tips and basal area barred with grey. Hindwings grey, becoming dark grey towards apex : cilia whitish-grey.[4]
Alfred Philpott studied and described the male genitalia of the species in 1927.[8]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[9][2] It has been found from Auckland to Invercargill.[10]
Biology and behaviour
The adults of this species have been found on the wing in December and March.[10] Hudson noted that C. ditrocha was a sluggish flyer and could be collected by sweeping foliage.[5]
Host plants and habitat
The host plants of the larvae of this moth are unknown, but the larva may be a seed borer.[11] Adults of this species prefer habitat at the edges of forest or scrub and appear to be associated with Pseudopanax arboreus.[5][10]
Conservation status
This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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". New Zealand Threat Classification Series 20: 8. http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/science-and-technical/nztcs20entire.pdf.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Circoxena ditrocha Meyrick, 1916". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/08626e7d-92b0-4d5e-8e48-d05aa74cbe03.
- ↑ , p. 457, Wikidata Q45922947
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Meyrick, Edward (1916). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera." (in en). Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 48: 414–419. https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3303412.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. pp. 331–332. http://www.bugz.org.nz/WebForms/ResultDetails.aspx?CurrentDoc=C7E94865-492F-45DA-9777-CC8E1E8B1438&back=true&NewDoc=true&searchType=1&SearchString=G.V.+Hudson.
- ↑ Dugdale, John S. (1973). "The genus Plutella (Hyponomeutidae) in New Zealand and the family position of Circoscena (Lepidoptera).". New Zealand Journal of Science 16: 1009–1023. http://www.bugz.org.nz/WebForms/ResultDetails.aspx?CurrentDoc=15185F7E-1DB3-4069-8EB0-9D8C171F78D6&CurrentPage=11&searchType=4&StartChar=%EF%BF%BD.
- ↑ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa.". Fauna of New Zealand 14: 1–264. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/49008/FNZ14Dugdale1988150.pdf. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ↑ Philpott, A. (1927). "The Male Genitalia of the New Zealand Plutellidae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 58: 317–326. http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_58/rsnz_58_00_002760.pdf.
- ↑ , p. 457, Wikidata Q45922947
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Pawson, Stephen M.; Emberson, Rowan M. (2000). The conservation status of invertebrates in Canterbury (Report). Department of Conservation. p. 41. ISSN 1171-9834.
- ↑ Patrick, B. H.; Dugdale., J. S. (2000). "Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera". Science for Conservation 136: 21. ISBN 0478218672. ISSN 1173-2946. http://www.doc.org.nz/Documents/science-and-technical/sfc136.pdf. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
External links
- Photo of Female holotype specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London
- Specimens held at the Auckland museum
Wikidata ☰ Q5121564 entry
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