Dumbletonius characterifer is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand.[2] It was first described by Francis Walker in 1865.[3]
| Dumbletonius characterifer | |
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| Female specimen | |
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| Male specimen | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hepialidae |
| Genus: | Dumbletonius |
| Species: | D. characterifer
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| Binomial name | |
| Dumbletonius characterifer (Walker, 1865)
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| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 56–70 mm (2.2–2.8 in) for males and 72–95 mm (2.8–3.7 in) for females. There is a complex ocellate pattern with bicoloured scales on the forewings. The hindwings are dark brown. Adults are on wing from November to April.[4] D. characterifer is present in the Waikato, Taupo, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough and Marlborough Sounds, Buller and Westland regions.[4]
The larvae feed on leaf litter.[citation needed] They built tunnels in the leaf litter from which they feed.[5]
The northern most location this species has been observed at is Mount Te Aroha.[5] This species has been known to be infected by Ophiocordyceps robertsii, the vegetable caterpillar fungus.[5]
References
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- ^ "Dumbletonius characterifer (Walker, 1865)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ Nielsen, Ebbe S.; Robinson, Gaden S.; Wagner, David L. (2000). "Ghost-moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia (Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea) (Lepidoptera )" (PDF). Journal of Natural History. 34 (6): 823–878. doi:10.1080/002229300299282. S2CID 86004391.
- ^ Walker, Francis (1865). "Supplement, part 2". List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. 32: 323–706 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b Dugdale, J. S. (1994). "Hepialidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 30: 57 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- ^ a b c Robert Hoare (2020), The Moths of Mt Te Aroha (PDF), pp. 1–11, Wikidata Q113345596, archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2022
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