Lysiphragma argentaria

Lysiphragma argentaria is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Lysiphragma argentaria
Male holotype
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Tineidae
Genus:
Lysiphragma
Species:
L. argentaria
Binomial name
Lysiphragma argentaria
Salmon, 1948[1]

Taxonomy

This species was first described by John Tenison Salmon in 1948 using a specimen collected by Graham Turbott on the 22 April 1946 on Great Island at the Three Kings Islands.[2][3] The family level classification of this endemic moth is regarded as unsatisfactory, and it is not correctly placed in the genus Lysiphragma.[3] As such the species is currently also known as Lysiphragma (s.l.) argentaria.[1][4] The holotype specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[3][5]

Description

Salmon described this species as follows:

The expansion of the wings is 12 mm. The general colour is silvery white on the forewings and head ; pale grey on the thorax ; with patagia whitish ; pale-ochreous white on the abdomen and silvery-grey on the hind wings, with strong metallic reflections. The forewings are clouded with scattered grey scales along the costa from the base to about three-quarters ; there is an apical cloudy-grey patch and a similar sub-apical patch on the tornus ; basal streak marked by a line of yellowish-orange terminated by two or three very dark-brown scales. Cilia of the forewings pale-brown, of the hind wings silvery-grey. The costa of the forewings is gently arched, the dorsum almost straight, the apex rounded and acute. Antennae dark-brown banded with white ; palpi brown shaded with white. Head and thorax heavily scaled. Legs greyish-white.[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][4] It is only found on the Three Kings Islands.[6]

Biology and behaviour

Much of the biology of this species is unknown.[6] This species is attracted to light.[2] Adults of this species are on the wing in April.[5]

Host species and habitat

The holotype specimen was collected on a "tea tree".[5]

Conservation Status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[7]

References
  1. "Lysiphragma argentaria Salmon, 1948". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  2. Salmon, J. T. (1948). "New species and records of Lepidoptera from the Three Kings Islands, New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 3: 309. 3: 309–311. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  3. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 214. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  4. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 465. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  5. "Lysiphragma argentaria". www.AucklandMuseum.com. 22 November 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  6. Hoare, Robert J. B. (2001). New Zealand's most enigmatic moth : what we know about Titanomis sisyrota (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation. p. 6. ISBN 0478221665. OCLC 54343129.
  7. 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). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 9.


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