Tingena epichalca is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae.[2] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at Arthur's Pass and in the mountains around Otira. This species is very similar in appearance to Tingena aphrontis but can be distinguished on the basis of different antennal ciliations of the male of the species. Adults are on the wing in January and inhabit alpine zones, frequenting alpine vegetation on the edge of screes at altitudes of between 3 – 4000 ft.
| Tingena epichalca | |
|---|---|
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| Lectotype | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Tingena |
| Species: | T. epichalca
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| Binomial name | |
| Tingena epichalca | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Taxonomy
editThis species was originally described by Edward Meyrick in 1886 using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass in January and named Cremnogenes epichalca.[3] In 1915 Meyrick discussed this species under the name Borkhausenia epichalca.[4] In 1926 Alfred Philpott discussed and illustrated the genitalia of the male of this species.[5] In 1928 George Hudson also discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[6] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Tingena.[2] The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]
Description
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Meyrick described this species as follows:
♂12-15 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax shining bronzy-ochreous. Antennae dark bronzy-fuscous, ciliations 2+1⁄2, whorled. Abdomen dark bronzy-grey. Legs bronzy-ochreous, anterior pair suffused with grey. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin very obliquely rounded ; shining bronzy-ochreous, usually without markings ; rarely a dot on fold, a second in disc beyond middle, and a posterior transverse angulated line obscurely grey : cilia pale bronzy-ochreous. Hindwings grey, with purplish reflections ; cilia pale greyish-ochreous.[3]
This species is very similar in appearance to Tingena aphrontis but can be distinguished on the basis of different antennal ciliations of the male of the species.[3] The species varies in depth of colouration.[6]
Distribution
editThis species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at its type locality of Arthur's Pass.[1][3] It has also been observed in the mountains around Otira at altitudes of approximately 3000 ft.[6]
Behaviour
editThe adults of this species are on the wing in January.[6]
Habitat
editThis species inhabits alpine zones and is associated with alpine vegetation on the boarder of scree slopes at altitudes of between 3000 and 4000 ft.[6]
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. 462. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b c d 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: 101. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b c d E. Meyrick (1886). "Descriptions of Australian Micro-Lepidoptera: Part XII Oecophoridae (continued)". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 10: 793. doi:10.5962/BHL.PART.17965. ISSN 0370-047X. Wikidata Q56010159.
- ^ E. Meyrick (12 July 1915). "Revision of New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47: 213. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63123349.
- ^ Alfred Philpott (1926). "List of New Zealand species of Borkhausenia (Oecophoridae: Lepidoptera), including new species". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 56: 399–413. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q110157185.
- ^ a b c d e George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 267, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286