Biology:Elachista melanura

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Short description: Species of moth endemic to New Zealand


Elachista melanura
Elachista melanura holotype.jpg
Holotype specimen
Invalid status (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
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Species:
E. melanura
Binomial name
Elachista melanura
Meyrick, 1889[2]

Elachista melanura is a species of moth in the family Elachistidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was originally described by Edward Meyrick in 1889 using a female specimen collected in Hamilton in January.[3][4] Hudson discussed this species in his 1928 publication The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand.[5] The holotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[4]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

♂. 13mm. Head, palpi, antennæ, and thorax whitish-grey. Abdomen ochreous-whitish, with a dense black apical exsertible tuft. Legs dark fuscous, posterior pair ochreous-whitish. Forewings lanceolate; whitish-grey, somewhat irrorated with darker; an elongate black dot on fold before middle, a second in disc above middle, and a third in disc at ⅔: cilia grey-whitish, with a spot of black scales at base round apex, and tips sprinkled with black. Hindwings and cilia pale whitish-grey.[3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[2][6] Other than its type locality, this species has also been collected in Titirangi in February 2000.[7][8]

Habitat

The type specimen was collected in heath-like scrub and swamp habitat.[4] It has also been collected in gumland and pakihi (a type of wetland).[7][9]

Conservation status

This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1]

References

  1. 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. 2.0 2.1 "Elachista melanura Meyrick, 1889". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/8bea4c20-178f-42c8-9b62-46a4c0c052be. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Meyrick, Edward (May 1889). "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 21: 154–188. https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3290332. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa.". Fauna of New Zealand 14: 1–264. ISBN 0477025188. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/49008/FNZ14Dugdale1988150.pdf. 
  5. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. pp. 320. OCLC 25449322. http://www.bugz.org.nz/WebForms/ResultDetails.aspx?CurrentDoc=C7E94865-492F-45DA-9777-CC8E1E8B1438&back=true&NewDoc=true&searchType=1&SearchString=G.V.+Hudson. 
  6. , p. 458 , Wikidata Q45922947
  7. 7.0 7.1 "NZTCS Lepidoptera spreadsheet". https://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/getting-involved/consultations/2013/nztcs/nztcs-lepidoptera.xls. 
  8. Environmental Impact Assessment of Aerial Spraying Btk in NZ for painted apple moth (Report). Ministry for Primary Industries. February 2003. http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests-diseases/forests/painted-apple-moth/environmental-impact.htm. Retrieved 31 May 2018. 
  9. "Pakihi" (in en). http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/factsheets/rare-ecosystems/wetlands/pakihi. 

Wikidata ☰ Q13603806 entry