Dasyuris enysii

Dasyuris enysii is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Dasyuris enysii
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Tribe:	Larentiinae
Genus:	Dasyuris
Species:	D. enysii
Binomial name
Dasyuris enysii (Butler, 1877)
Synonyms
Fidonia enysii Butler, 1877 Statira homomorpha Meyrick 1884 Statira enysii (Butler, 1877) Stathmonyma enysii (Butler, 1877)

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 using specimens collected by John Davies Enys and named Fidonia enysii.[1][2] In 1884 Edward Meyrick, thinking he was describing a new species, named it Statira homomorpha.[3] In 1885 Meyrick recognised his error and synonymised both previous names naming the species Statira enysii.[4] In 1886 Meyrick renamed the genus Statira Stathmonyma.[5] George Hudson described and illustrated the species under the name Dasyuris enysii both in his 1898 book New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macrolepidoptera) as well as in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[6][7] The type specimen of this species is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[1]

Description

Butler described the species as follows:

Primaries above pale grey, crossed by sandy yellowish, white, and dark grey bars and lines, some of which form an irregular darker central band ; outer border broadly dark grey, bounded internally by a lunulated sandy stripe and intersected by a pale line ; fringe alternately pale brown and whitish ; secondaries bright orange ; abdominal area speckled with blackish ; a subbasal transverse blackline ; outer border dentated, black ; fringe alternately brown and whitish ; body grey : wings below bright ochreous, crossed by several black lines, much as in the preceding species ; outer border black, intersected by a crenated yellow stripe, which in the secondaries unites with the ground-colour at the apex and in the second median interspace ; pectus white, venter creamy whitish. Expanse of wings 1 inch 4 lines.[2]

When on the wing this species can be mistaken for Paranotoreas brephosata but can be distinguished from that species as D. enysii is larger in size, has paler colouring and the antennae of the male is simpler.[6]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[8] The range of D. enysii is Marlborough, Kaikoura and Mid Canterbury.[9] The type locality is Castle Hill.[1] Hudson stated that he collected specimens at the mineral belt on Dun Mountain near Nelson as well as at Mount Hutt.[6]

Biology and life cycle

Little is known of the biology and life cycle of this species.[10] The adults of this species are on the wing in January and are day flying.[7]

Host species and habitat

The host species for the larvae of this moth is unknown but it has been hypothesised that it is likely to be a plant from the family Apiaceae.[9] The adults of this species prefer stony mountainous habitat.[6]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon".[11]

References

1. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 178. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
2. Butler, A. G. (1877). "On two collections of heterocerous Lepidoptera from New Zealand, with descriptions of new genera and species". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1877:May-Dec.: 379–407 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. Meyrick, Edward (1884). "A Monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16: 49–113. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
4. Meyrick, Edward (1885). "Supplement to a Monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 17: 62–68. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
5. Meyrick, Edward (1886). "Notes on Nomenclature of New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 18: 184. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
6. Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & Co. p. 69. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
7. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. pp. 128–129. OCLC 25449322.
8. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 459. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
9. Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 20. ISBN 0478218672. OCLC 154670803.
10. Pawson, Stephen M.; Emberson, Rowan M. (2000). "The conservation status of invertebrates in Canterbury". Conservation Advisory Science Notes.: 1–40. hdl:10182/1658. ISSN 1171-9834.
11. 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 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 8. ISBN 9781988514383.