Ctenarchis is a genus of moths of the family Carposinidae, containing only one species, Ctenarchis cramboides. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island. It has been observed in the Northland, Auckland, as well as in the Tararua regions. Adults have been observed or collected from December to March and in June and July as well as October. As at 2017 the larval host is currently unknown. Adults are attracted to light. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Ctenarchis
Male holotype

Naturally Uncommon (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Carposinidae
Genus: Ctenarchis
Dugdale, 1995
Species:
C. cramboides
Binomial name
Ctenarchis cramboides

Taxonomy

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Ctenarchis cramboides was first described by John S. Dugdale in 1995 using material collected by C. J. Green and himself at Spraggs Bush in the Waitākere Ranges on 9 March 1984.[3] The holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[3]

Etymology

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The name Ctenarchis refers to the pectinate (comblike) antenna (kteinos is Greek for a comb and -"archis", a conventional carposinid suffix).[3]

Description

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Living specimen.

The wingspan is 35–40 mm for males and about 50 mm for females.[3]

Ctenarchis cramboides can be distinguished from other similar appearing species by its size and the length of its palpi.[4]

Distribution

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This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island.[5][6] It is known from Auckland and Northland with most specimens have been collected in Titirangi.[3][7] However in 2023 this species was observed in the Tararua District extending the known range of this species.[8]

Biology and behaviour

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Adult specimens have been collected from December to March and in June and July using either light or malaise traps.[3] An adult of this species has also been observed on the wing in October.[8] At rest, the species holds its wings mostly around the body though partly overlapping.[3]

Host plants and habitat

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The host plants for the larvae of this species is unknown.[7] This species has been collected near cabbage trees.[3]

Conservation status

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Ctenarchis cramboides has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status with the qualifiers "Data Poor" and "Sparse", under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Lepidoptera of New Zealand". Landcareresearch.co.nz. Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Dugdale, J. S. (January 1995). "A new genus and species of New Zealand Carposinidae (Lepidoptera)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 22 (2): 213–216. doi:10.1080/03014223.1995.9518036. ISSN 0301-4223. Wikidata Q54576384.
  4. ^ Hudson, Neville (12 July 2023). "Ctenarchis cramboides". iNaturalist. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Ctenarchis cramboides Dugdale, 1995". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b B H Patrick; J. S. Dugdale (January 2000). "Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera" (PDF). Science for Conservation. 136: 1–32. ISSN 1173-2946. Wikidata Q110463865.
  8. ^ a b Stephens, Christopher (23 October 2023). "Ctenarchis cramboides". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2 January 2024.