Tingena grata
| Tingena grata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Tingena |
| Species: | T. grata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tingena grata | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Tingena grata is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae.[2] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the South Island. The adults of this species are on the wing from November to January.
Taxonomy[edit]
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1927 using specimens collected at Dun Mountain in Nelson at 2000 - 3000 ft between November and January.[3] Philpott originally named the species Borkhausenia grata.[3] In 1939 George Hudson discussed this species in his book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand using the same name.[4] In 11988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Tingena.[2] The male holotype is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[2]
Description[edit]
Philpott described the species as follows:
♂. 20–22 mm. Head and thorax light orange-yellow. Palpi light orange-yellow, second segment, except near apex, fuscous outwardly. Antennae ringed alternately with ochreous-grey and fuscous, ciliations in male ¾. Abdomen fuscous-grey, anal tuft ochreous. Legs whitish-ochreous, anterior pair infuscated. Forewings moderate, broad, costa moderately arched, apex bluntly pointed, termen rounded, oblique; light orange-yellow; costal margin purplish-fuscous from base to about ¼; a purplish-fuscous spot on fold before middle, sometimes absent or represented only by one or two scales; a similar spot in disc at ⅔; fringes concolorous with wing. Hindwings light fuscous-grey; fringes light fuscous-grey, with obscure darker basal line.[3]
This species is similar in appearance to but can be distinguished from Tingena apertella as it is larger, has broader wings and has a clearer ground colour to its forewings.[3] Unmarked specimens of this species can also be confused with Tingena enodis but can be distinguished as T. enodis has costa of its forewings that are more arched and it is paler in colour in comparison to T. grata.[3] Hudson comments that this species can be distinguished from T. apertella only by the genitalic characteristics of the male.[4]
Distribution[edit]
This species is endemic to New Zealand and as well as being collected at its type locality of the Dun Mountain, it has been collected at Aoraki / Mount Cook.[1][4]
Behaviour[edit]
This species is on the wing from November to January.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 462. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b c d John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 101. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b c d e Alfred Philpott (15 August 1927). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 85. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q107580217.
- ^ a b c d George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 443, OCLC 9742724, Wikidata Q109420935