Biology:Mallobathra memotuina

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Short description: Species of moth

Mallobathra memotuina
Mallobathra memotuina (2).jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Psychidae
Genus: Mallobathra
Species:
M. memotuina
Binomial name
Mallobathra memotuina
Clarke, 1934[1]

Mallobathra memotuina is a moth of the family Psychidae.[1] It was described by Charles Edwin Clarke in 1934.This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in and around Dunedin. Adults are on the wing in November and December and have been collected just before sunrise.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Charles Edwin Clarke in 1934 using two specimens collected on the face of Vauxhall Cliff at Andersons Bay in Dunedin.[2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[3] J. S. Dugdale confirmed the placement of this species in the genus Mallobathra in 1971.[4] The male holotype, although said to be held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, was not able to be located 1988, however the museum holds three allotype specimens.[5][6]

Description

Illustration by Hudson.

Clarke described the species as follows:

♂ 12 mm. ♀ 14 mm. Head and palpi purplish and fuscous brown. Antennae dark fuscous with admixture of ochreous; ciliations in ♂ 2. Thorax and abdomen dark purplish brown; legs purplish brown mixed with ochreous and annulated on tibia and tarsi. Forewings elongate; costa moderately arched, apex rather acutely rounded, termen strongly oblique; purplish fuscous with 5 to 6 ochreous white fasciae from costa. Basal one is at about ​16 outwardly oblique, second at ​13 inwardly oblique, the third at ​12 broken in centre of wing after waving outwardly, then inwardly to dorsum, the fourth at ​23 more straight to dorsum, but sometimes broken and spotted with purplish, fifth and sixth close together before apical patch, outwardly oblique; cilia dark fuscous. Hindwings dark fuscous; cilia fuscous, apically pale.[2]

Distribution

M. memotuina is endemic to New Zealand.[1] This species has been observed in and around Dunedin.[7]

Behaviour

Adults of this species have been collected just before the sun rises.[2][8] Adults are on the wing in November and December.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 , pp. 463 , Wikidata Q45922947
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 , pp. 14 , Wikidata Q110090429
  3. 3.0 3.1 , pp. 469 , Wikidata Q109420935 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. , pp. 139 , Wikidata Q64006453
  5. , pp. 68 , Wikidata Q45083134
  6.  , Wikidata Q58676616
  7. "Mallobathra memotuina" (in en). https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/380238-Mallobathra-memotuina. 
  8. , pp. 115 , Wikidata Q62934927

Wikidata ☰ Q13482307 entry