Schiffermuelleria orthophanes

Schiffermuelleria orthophanes is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Schiffermuelleria orthophanes

Nationally Critical (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Oecophoridae
Genus:
Schiffermuelleria
Species:
S. orthophanes
Binomial name
Schiffermuelleria orthophanes
(Meyrick, 1905)[2]
Synonyms[3]
  • Compsistis orthophanes Meyrick, 1905

Taxonomy

In 1905 Edward Meyrick described this species and named it Compsistis orthophanes.[4] He used specimens he collected in Nelson and Auckland in December and January.[4] The type specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[3] Meyrick subsequently placed it within the European genus Schiffermuelleria with George Vernon Hudson discussing the species under this name in 1928.[5] This endemic New Zealand species likely belongs to a separate genus.[6] Robert J. B. Hoare has proposed a Hierodoris group to include this species but further work is needed to determine the correct genus in which to place this moth.[6] As such the species is currently also known as Schiffermuelleria (s.l.) orthophanes.[2]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

9-10 mm. Head, antennae, and thorax dark bronzy-fuscous. Palpi rather dark fuscous, internally whitish-ochreous, terminal joint as long as second. Abdomen dark fuscous, apex whitish-ochreous. Fore-wings elongate, narrow, costa gently arched, apex round-pointed, termen very obliquely rounded ; fuscous, slightly purplish-tinged, irrorated with dark fuscous and blackish ; a straight rather narrow fascia at ​1⁄4, a small spot in middle of disc, and opposite subcostal and subdorsal spots at ​3⁄4 pale ochreous-yellow, irregular-edged : cilia fuscous, mixed with dark fuscous towards base. Hind-wings dark fuscous ; cilia fuscous, with dark fuscous basal shade.[4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[2] It has been collected in Auckland,[4] Waimarino,[7] Wellington, North Brother Island, Stephens Island, Nelson, and Southland.[8]

Biology and habitat

Little is known of the biology of this species.[8] It has been hypothesised that larvae may subsist on litter or twigs.[8] The adult moths appear from September to March.[7] Hudson noted that, although previously regarded as rare, in the years surrounding 1928 the species had become more common.[7] Earlier records indicate the species inhabited modified and suburban localities.[5][7]

Conservation status

In 2017 this moth was classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical and data poor.[1]

References
  1. 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.
  2. "Schiffermuelleria orthophanes (Meyrick, 1905)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 98. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  4. Meyrick, Edward (1905). "Notes on New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 1905: 219–244 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 28. ISBN 0478218672.
  6. Hoare, Robert J. B. (2005). "Hierodoris (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae), and overview of Oecophoridae" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. Lincoln, Canterbury, NZ.: Manaaki Whenua Press. 54: 1–102. ISSN 0111-5383. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  7. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 260.
  8. Kerry-Jayne Wilson and Alastair Freeman (1993). A report on a visit to North Brother Island, Cook Strait, 6-11 February 1993 (Report). Lincoln University. p. 6. hdl:10182/4172.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)


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