Biology:Thylacosceles acridomima
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Short description: Species of moth endemic to New Zealand
| Thylacosceles acridomima | |
|---|---|
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Stathmopodidae |
| Genus: | Thylacosceles |
| Species: | T. acridomima
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| Binomial name | |
| Thylacosceles acridomima Meyrick, 1889[1]
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Thylacosceles acridomima, also known as the pūniu spore-eater or the micro-featherfoot,[2] is a moth of the family Stathmopodidae.[3][1] This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1889.[4][5]
Description
The mature larva of this species is between 5 and 6 mm long and is short and fat with a whitish flesh coloured body and pale brown head.[2]
Meyrick described the adult male of this species as follows:
♂. 11mm. Head and palpi light yellowish-ochreous. Antennae whitish-fuscous, base yellowish. Thorax fuscous. Abdomen grey. Anterior legs dark fuscous ; middle legs ochreous-yellowish ; posterior legs ochreous- whitish, tibiae with a black apical ring, and tuft of posterior half dark grey. Forewings elongate, very narrow, broadest near base, long-pointed ; fuscous, somewhat unevenly shaded, but without markings : cilia light fuscous. Hindwings fuscous-grey ; cilia light fuscous.[5]
Behaviour
The larvae of this species create a silk tunnel on the underside of fronds of their host species.[2] The adults of this species are on the wing from October to January.[2]
Hosts
The larval host of this species is Polystichum vestitum. The larvae feed on the spores of this plant.[2]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thylacosceles acridomima. |
Wikidata ☰ Q13638580 entry
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