Leptocroca xyrias

Leptocroca xyrias
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Oecophoridae
Genus: Locheutis
Species: L. xyrias
Binomial name
Leptocroca xyrias
Meyrick, 1931

Leptocroca xyrias is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae family. The taxonomy of this species is in need of revision and L. xyrias likely belongs to a separate genus. It is endemic to New Zealand. It has been classified as Data Deficient by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931 from a specimen collected at "Blackmillar" (Black Miller Stream) at Kikoura by Stewart Lindsay in December.[1][2][3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1939 publication A supplement to the Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] The genus level classification of this species is regarded as unsatisfactory.[5] As such the species is also known as Leptocroca (s.l.) xyrias.[6] The holotype specimen is held at the Canterbury Museum.[2]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

♂︎. 18mm. - Head, thorax light brownish, slightly sprinkled fuscous. Palpi fuscous, tips of joints whitish. Antennal ciliations 1. Forewings elongate, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded ; brown, suffusedly irrodated fuscous on costal half, except posteriorly ; a slightly raised dark fuscous dot beneath fold at ​1⁄4 ; cilia light grey, basal half overlaid paler, outer third whitish-grey. Hindwings grey, suffusedly irrorated darker on posterior half ; cilia light grey, outer third-whitish grey.[1]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[7][6] It is only known from its collection site in Kaikoura.[3]

Biology and behaviour

This species is on the wing in December.[4]

Conservation status

This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Meyrick, Edward (1931). "Notes on New Zealand Lepidoptera". Records of the Canterbury Museum. 3: 367–369.
  2. 1 2 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–269. ISBN 0477025188. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 "NZTCS Lepidoptera Spreadsheet". www.doc.govt.nz. 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 Hudson, G. V. (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 446. OCLC 221041540. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Hoare, Robert J. B. (2005). "Hierodoris (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae), and overview of Oecophoridae" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 54: 1–102. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Leptocroca xyrias Meyrick, 1931". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  7. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 462. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  8. ↑ 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: 5.


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