Batrachedra eucola is a species of moth in the family Batrachedridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found both the North and South Islands. This species frequents scrubland habitat and is on the wing in January and February. B. eucola can be easily distinguished from its close relatives as it larger in size, has a pronounced palpi tuft and has full neuration of its hindwings.
| Batrachedra eucola | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Batrachedridae |
| Genus: | Batrachedra |
| Species: | B. eucola
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| Binomial name | |
| Batrachedra eucola | |
Taxonomy
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This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1889.[2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[3] The holotype specimen of this species was collected near the Bealey River in North Canterbury.[4] This specimen is now held at the Natural History Museum, London.[4]
Description
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Meyrick described the species as follows:
♂︎. 19mm. Head and antennae whitish-ochreous. Palpi whitish-ochreous, terminal joint and apex of second more brownish, second joint with scales projecting in front into an angular tuft. Thorax pale brownish-ochreous. Abdomen whitish-ochreous. Legs dark fuscous, apex of joints whitish-ochreous. Forewings elongate, very narrow, parallel-sided, long-pointed ; veins 6 and 7 stalked ; whitish-ochreous, somewhat sprinkled with brownish-ochreous, towards costa broadly suffused with brownish-ochreous, costal edge fuscous towards base ; a dark fuscous dot in disc before middle, a second on fold obliquely before first, and a third, larger and somewhat transverse, in disc before 3⁄4 : cilia whitish-ochreous, beneath anal angle greyish-tinged, on costa marked with three dark fuscous dots, with indications of two dark fuscous lines at apex only. Hindwings with all veins present ; grey, slightly ochreous-tinged ; cilia light grey, slightly ochreous-tinged, on costa whitish-ochreous.[2]
B. eucola can be easily distinguished from its close relatives as it larger in size, has a pronounced palpi tuft and has full neuration of its hindwings.[2]
Distribution
editThis species is endemic to New Zealand.[5][1] Along with northern Canterbury, this species has also been collected at Whangārei,[6] National Park,[7] Wellington,[6] Aorere River near Nelson,[3] and Hope Arm, in Fiordland.[8]
Biology and behaviour
editThis species is on the wing in January and February.[3] This species frequents scrubland habitat.[7][9]
References
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- ^ a b Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 457. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b c Meyrick, Edward (1889). "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 21: 154–188 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b c Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 304. OCLC 25449322.
- ^ a b Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264. ISBN 0-477-02518-8. ISSN 0111-5383. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2017 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- ^ "Batrachedra eucola Meyrick, 1889". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- ^ a b Hudson, G. V. (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 454. OCLC 221041540. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ a b Hudson, George Vernon (1950). Fragments of New Zealand entomology : a popular account of all the New Zealand cicadas : the natural history of the New Zealand glow-worm : a second supplement to The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, and notes on many other native insects. Wellington, N.Z.: Ferguson & Osborn. p. 106. OCLC 154155584.
- ^ Clarke, C. E. (1933). "The Lepidoptera of the Te Anau-Manapouri lakes districts". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 63 (2): 112–132.
- ^ Patterson, S. C. (1930). "List of Lepidoptera of Whangarei". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 61: 554–561.