Proditrix chionochloae

Proditrix chionochloae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Plutellidae
Genus: Proditrix
Species: P. chionochloae
Binomial name
Proditrix chionochloae
Dugdale, 1987[1]

Proditrix chionochloae is a species of moth in the Glyphipterigidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Declining'" by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

P. chionochloae was described by John S. Dugdale in 1987 using specimens collected by him at the Pouakai Range in Taranaki.[2][3] The holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[3]

Description

Both the male and female adults have wings and their wingspan is 25mm.[2] This moth is similar in appearance to Proditrix megalynta with its buff coloured body and legs but P. chionochloae have a greater number of dark spots on the top of their wings.[2] P. chionochloae can also be distinguished as its genital characteristics are different from P. megalynta and they have a longer third segment of the labial palpi.[2]

Pouakai Range

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][4] It can only be found in Taupo and Taranaki at the Pouakai Range.[5][2]

Host plant

Chionochloa rubra

The host plant of this species is Chionochloa rubra.[2]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Declining".[6] One of the reasons for this classification is that the host plant of this species is being invaded by heather in Taupo localities.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Proditrix chionochloae Dugdale, 1987". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dugdale, J. S. (1987). "Proditrix, a new genus for Titanomis tetragona Hudson and Plutella megalynta Meyrick and allies (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), shoot destroyers of Monocotyledones". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14: 99–112. doi:10.1080/03014223.1987.10422687.
  3. 1 2 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
  4. ↑ 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. 463. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  5. 1 2 Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 30. ISBN 0478218672. OCLC 154670803.
  6. ↑ 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). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 7. ISBN 9781988514383.
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