Chersadaula ochrogastra is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.
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| Species: | C. ochrogastra
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| Chersadaula ochrogastra | |
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Taxonomy
editThis species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1923 from specimens obtained by George Hudson at Breaker Bay in Wellington.[3] Hudson found larvae of the species in September and raised them to adulthood in November.[3] Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 publication The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand.[4] The lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[5]
Description
editThe eggs of this species are white and approximately 3mm in length, and cylindrical in shape although slightly broader at one end.[4]
The larvae, when fully grown, are approximately 2 cm long and are cylinder shaped with a tapered end.[4] The head is bright yellowish-brown, the first part of the larva is yellowish-white, then tinged with black, then whitish with irregular tinges of chocolate brown.[4]
Meyrick described the adult moths of the species as follows:
♂ 17 mm. Head ochreous-whitish, hairs greyish towards base. Palpi ochreous-whitish mixed with grey. Antennal ciliations ♂ 1+1⁄2. Thorax ochreous-whitish slightly tinged with rosy, and suffusedly mixed with grey. Abdomen light yellow-ochreous. Forewings elongate, costa slightly arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded; light-brownish irregularly tinged with rosy-pink, and sprinkled with grey-whitish and dark fuscous; a dark-fuscous dot on base of costa; a spot of dark-fuscous irroration in disc towards base; stigmata roundish, dark fuscous, plical beneath first discal, opposite spots of dark-fuscous suffusion on costa and dorsum before these two and suffusedly connected with them, plical preceded by some white suffusion, a roundish blotch of dark-fuscous irroration between second discal and tornus, preceded by narrow whitish suffusion; an irregular illdefined and incomplete angulated subterminal line of dark-fuscous irroration, indented above angle: cilia pale ochreous tinged with rosy, base sprinkled with dark fuscous. Hindwings dark grey, lighter towards base; cilia grey. ♀ 16 mm. Abdomen yellow-ochreous, grey on sides and praeanal segment, anal segment whitish. Forewings broad-lanceolate, apex strongly and narrowly produced, pointed; colour and markings nearly as in ♂, but basal third more whitish, angularly prominent in disc, a stronger blackish mark between second discal and tornus. Hindwings rather broad-lanceolate, less than half length of forewings and about half as broad: cilia grey-whitish.[3]
Distribution
editIt is endemic to New Zealand.[2][6] It has been found in the North Island.[7] However this species has not been collected since 1923.[8][9]
Biology and behaviour
editLarvae have been found under stones.[3] Adults emerge in early November.[4] The adult female of this species has noticeable wing reduction and is incapable of flight.[4][7]
Host species and habitat
editThe female adult moths place their eggs indiscriminately and they are not attached to anything.[4] The larvae of this moth live in silken cocoons in the earth and feed on grass roots.[4][7] The preferred habitat of the larvae of this species is along the sea-coast, about three metres above the high tide mark.[4]
Conservation status
editThis species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1]
References
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- ^ a b 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). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 8.
- ^ a b "Chersadaula ochrogastra Meyrick, 1923". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d Meyrick, Edward (1923). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 54: 162–169 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. pp. 272–273. OCLC 25449322.
- ^ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264. ISBN 0477025188. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2018-05-31 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- ^ 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 Sattler, K (1991). "A review of wing reduction in Lepidoptera". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). 60 (2): 243–288. ISSN 0524-6431 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Patrick, B. H.; Dugdale., J. S. (2000). "Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera" (PDF). Science for Conservation. 136: 21. ISBN 0478218672. ISSN 1173-2946. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2018-05-31 – via Department of Conservation.
- ^ "NZTCS-lepidoptera 2013". www.doc.govt.nz. 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
External links
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