Elachista ochroleuca

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Elachista ochroleuca
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Elachistidae
Genus: Elachista
Species:
E. ochroleuca
Binomial name
Elachista ochroleuca
Meyrick, 1923
Synonyms[1]
  • Cosmiotes ochroleuca (Meyrick, 1923)

Elachista ochroleuca is a moth in the family Elachistidae.[1] It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1923. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. The adults of this species are day flying and are on the wing from October until March.

Taxonomy[edit]

E. ochroleuca was first described in 1923 by Edward Meyrick using a specimen collected in January at Mount Aurum in Otago at 3000ft amongst tussock grass.[2] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[3] In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Cosmiotes.[4] Dugdale followed this placement in his 1988 publication Lepidopteria - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa.[5] In 2012 in the Inventory of New Zealand Biodiversity this species was discussed under its original name of Elachista ochroleuca.[6][7] This placement was supported in 2019.[1] The female holotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[5][1]

Description[edit]

Meyrick described this species as follows:

♂. 10mm. Head, palpi, thorax, and abdomen white. Forewings narrowly elongate-lanceolate, apex produced, acute; 4 and 8 absent; ochreous-white ; an ochreous dot on fold towards extremity : cilia white. Hindwings linear-lanceolate ; 4 absent ; grey-whitish : cilia whitish.[2]

Distribution[edit]

This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the South Island.[7] As well as the type locality, this specimen has been observed at Arthur's Pass and in kettle holes near Lake Ōhau as well as in grassland near Twizel.[3][8]

Behaviour[edit]

The adults of this species are on the wing from October until March and are day flying.[8]

Hosts and habitat[edit]

The larval host of this species is Poa cita.[9][10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Lauri Kaila (11 July 2019). "An annotated catalogue of Elachistinae of the World (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae)". Zootaxa. 4632 (1): 1–231. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4632.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 31712495. Wikidata Q86984314.
  2. ^ a b Edward Meyrick (1923). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 54: 167. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63102493.
  3. ^ a b George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 320, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286
  4. ^ Dugdale, J. S. (10 November 1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae" (PDF). Pacific Insects Monographs. 27: 79. ISSN 0078-7515. Wikidata Q64006453.
  5. ^ a b 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: 111. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
  6. ^ Dennis P. Gordon, ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 458. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  7. ^ a b "Elachista ochroleuca Meyrick, 1923". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  8. ^ a b Brian H. Patrick (1992). "Supplement to the Lepidoptera of the Mackenzie County with recommendations on their conservation". New Zealand Entomologist. 12: 42–48. ISSN 0077-9962. Wikidata Q124029613.
  9. ^ "Elachista ochroleuca". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  10. ^ Brian H. Patrick (1994). Valley floor Lepidoptera of Central Otago. Otago Conservancy Miscellaneous Report Series. Vol. 19. pp. 1–54. ISBN 0-478-01584-4. Wikidata Q124030180.