Orocrambus sophronellus

Orocrambus sophronellus is a moth in the family Crambidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as Data Deficient by the Department of Conservation.

Orocrambus sophronellus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Crambidae
Genus:
Orocrambus
Species:
O. sophronellus
Binomial name
Orocrambus sophronellus
(Meyrick, 1885)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Crambus sophronellus Meyrick, 1885

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885,[3] from a specimen given to him by Richard William Fereday.[4] Meyrick named the species Crambus sophronellus.[2][3] Meyrick gave a more detailed description of the species later that year.[4] In 1928 George Vernon Hudson also described and illustrated the species.[5] In 1975 David E. Gaskin placed the species in the genus Orocrambus.[6] Gaskin argues that Hudsons illustration in his 1928 book is actually of the species O. cyclopicus.[6] The type locality of the specimen is uncertain but is possibly Canterbury.[3] The type specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Female. — 19 mm. Head and thorax ochreous-white, coarsely irrorated with greyish-fuscous. Palpi long, whitish, externally irrorated with grey. Antennae grey. Abdomen whitish, irrorated with grey. Legs grey-whitish. Forewings elongate, tolerably oblong, costa hardly arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin straight, rather strongly oblique ; greyish-fuscous, densely irrorated with white, and with a few black scales : cilia whitish-grey mixed with white, base white. Hindwings light fuscous-grey, towards hindmargin darker ; cilia grey- whitish.[4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][7] It has been recorded in Taparewa near Nelson,[5] the Mackenzie Basin,[8] and Central Otago.[6] It is possibly also present in Canterbury.[6]

Life cycle and behaviour

Adult moths have been recorded on wing in March.[6] The species is attracted to light.[5]

Habitat

O. sophronellus is thought to occur in short tussock grasslands.[9]

Host species

O. sophronellus is associated with Carex muelleri.[10]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Data Deficient.[11]

References
  1. "Orocrambus sophronellus (Meyrick, 1885)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  2. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 149. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  3. Meyrick, Edward (1885). "Description of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. V [VI]. Pyralidina [abstract]". New Zealand Journal of Science. 2: 346–348 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. Meyrick, Edward (1885). "Descriptions of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. VI. Pyralidina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 17: 121–140 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 169.
  6. Gaskin, D. E. (10 March 1975). "Revision of the New Zealand Crambini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Crambinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 2 (3): 265–363. doi:10.1080/03014223.1975.9517878.
  7. 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. 457. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  8. Head, Nicholas John (4 October 2016). "Statement of evidence of Nicholas John Head for the Director-General of Conservation". www.ecan.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  9. Pawson, Stephen M; Emberson, Rowan M (2000). "The conservation status of invertebrates in Canterbury". Lincoln University. hdl:10182/1658. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. "Nevis Red Tussock Fen". www.orc.govt.nz. Otago Regional Council. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  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. 5. ISBN 9781988514383.


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