Biology:Dumbletonius characterifer
| Dumbletonius characterifer | |
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| Female specimen | |
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| Male specimen | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hepialidae |
| Genus: | Dumbletonius |
| Species: | D. characterifer
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| Binomial name | |
| Dumbletonius characterifer (Walker, 1865)
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| Synonyms | |
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Dumbletonius characterifer is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand.[2] It was first described by Francis Walker in 1865.[3]
The wingspan is 56–70 mm (2.2–2.8 in) for males and 72–95 mm (2.8–3.7 in) for females. There is a complex ocellate pattern with bicoloured scales on the forewings. The hindwings are dark brown. Adults are on wing from November to April.[4] D. characterifer is present in the Waikato, Taupo, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough and Marlborough Sounds, Buller and Westland regions.[4]
The larvae feed on leaf litter.[citation needed] They built tunnels in the leaf litter from which they feed.[5]
The northern most location this species has been observed at is Mount Te Aroha.[5] This species has been known to be infected by Ophiocordyceps robertsii, the vegetable caterpillar fungus.[5]
References
- ↑ "Dumbletonius characterifer (Walker, 1865)". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/23f439ae-7954-4af2-ba39-9d1d139d7f64.
- ↑ Nielsen, Ebbe S.; Robinson, Gaden S.; Wagner, David L. (2000). "Ghost-moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia (Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea) (Lepidoptera )". Journal of Natural History 34 (6): 823–878. doi:10.1080/002229300299282. http://johngrehan.net/files/1013/8578/1218/Nielsen_et_al_2000_Hepialidae.pdf.
- ↑ Walker, Francis (1865). "Supplement, part 2." (in en). List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. 32: 323–706. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38917157.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Dugdale, J. S. (1994). "Hepialidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)". Fauna of New Zealand 30: 57. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/49029/FNZ30Dugdale1994150.pdf.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 , Wikidata Q113345596
Wikidata ☰ Q5313727 entry
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