Zapyrastra stellata
| Zapyrastra stellata | |
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| Species: | Z. stellata
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| Zapyrastra stellata | |
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Zapyrastra stellata is a species of moth of the family Momphidae first described by Alfred Philpott in 1931.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Otago. The larvae of this species mine the leaves of Meuhlenbeckia. Adults are on the wing in June and December.
Taxonomy[edit]
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1931 using a specimen collected by Charles E. Clarke in Wānaka (previously known as Pembroke) in December.[3][2] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Zapyrastra.[2] The male holotype specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[2] In 2019 Lauri Kaila placed this species in the genus Mompha stating "Current status: Mompha (as Zapyrastra) stellata (Philpott, 1931) (Momphidae); Dugdale (1988)".[4]
Description[edit]
This species was described by Philpott as follows:
♂. 7.5 mm. Head, antennae, thorax and abdomen bronzy brown. Palpi bronzy brown mixed with whitish. Legs bronzy brown, tibial spines on posterior pair white. Forewings with costa subsinuate, apex rounded, termen very oblique; bronzy brown; a large snow-white spot on costa at 5⁄6 reaching halfway across wing: fringes fuscous grey. Hindwings and fringes greyish fuscous.[3]
This species can be distinguished from other species with a similar appearance as it has a prominent white costal patch.[3]
Distribution[edit]
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][2] Along with the type locality of Wānaka, this species has also been observed in Richmond Valley in Otago.[5]
Behaviour[edit]
As well as being collected in December, this species has been observed in flight in June.[3][6]
Host species[edit]
The larvae of this species mine Meuhlenbeckia leaves including Meuhlenbeckia complexa.[6][5][7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Zapyrastra stellata (Philpott, 1931)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ a b c d e 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: 87. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b c d Alfred Philpott (1931). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 62: 31. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q109466059.
- ^ Lauri Kaila (11 July 2019). "An annotated catalogue of Elachistinae of the World (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae)". Zootaxa. 4632 (1): 181. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4632.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 31712495. Wikidata Q86984314.
- ^ a b "Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review. Cluden Station. Conservation Resources Report - Part 1" (PDF). www.linz.govt.nz. 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ a b Graeme White (1991). "The Changing Abundance of Moths in a Tussock Grassland, 1962- 1989, and 50-Year to 70-Year Trends" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 15 (1): 18. ISSN 0110-6465. JSTOR 24054454. Wikidata Q107569572.
- ^ Brian H. Patrick (2021). "Indigenous hostplants of New Zealand's endemic Lepidoptera". Canterbury Botanical Society Journal. 52: 4–28. Wikidata Q110121933.