Biology:Compsistis bifaciella

Short description: Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Compsistis bifaciella
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lecithoceridae
Genus:	Compsistis
Species:	C. bifaciella
Binomial name
Compsistis bifaciella (Walker, 1864)
Synonyms
Gelechia bifaciella Walker, 1864

Compsistis bifaciella is a moth of the family Lecithoceridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found throughout the North Island.

Description

Dugdale described the larvae of this species as follows:

Body with bands of short, stiff setulae on broad sclerites (pinacula) only ; thoracic SV setal group (above foreleg base) with 6—10 short setulae arranged horizontally; head capsule ventrally with menrum simple (no concave sclerite, no paired dark slits); body length 10 mm

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and found throughout the North Island.

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits native forest. Larvae feed on leaf litter, living in a silk gallery either on the ground or in tree ferns. They pupate in a leaf litter coated dome shaped cocoon normally resting on a dead leaf.

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing from October to January, though occasionally they have also been recorded in February. It is a day flying moth and is difficult to observe when on the wing. Adults tend be active on sunny days and but can be observed when settled on vegetation. This species has been collected via sweeping of vegetation and malaise traps.

References

Wikidata ☰ Q13474905 entry