Zealandopterix zonodoxa

Zealandopterix zonodoxa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Micropterigidae
Genus: Zealandopterix
Species: Z. zonodoxa
Binomial name
Zealandopterix zonodoxa
(Meyrick, 1888)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Palaeomicra zonodoxa Meyrick, 1888
  • Sabatinca zonodoxa (Meyrick, 1888)
  • Sabatinca rosicoma Meyrick, 1914

Zealandopterix zonodoxa is a moth of the Micropterigidae family. It can be found in the northern part of the North Island as well as in the Poor Knights, Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands.

Taxonomy and naming

Zealandopterix zonodoxa was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 as Palaeomicra zonodoxa.[2][3]

Description

The forewing length is 2.6 millimetres (0.10 in) for males and 3 millimetres (0.12 in) for females. The forewing ground colour is dark brownish-black with strong purplish-bronze reflections. There is a maximum of five and a minimum of three shining white fasciae comprising: a short basal triangular streak, which is consistently present, in the centre of the wing, contiguous with the tegula. Secondly, a transverse band at mid-length, either as a continuous broad line or only partly represented in the form of either a bold triangular patch on the dorsum or triangular patches on both the costa and the dorsum. Furthermore, a much smaller costal patch and a few white scales in the apex present in all specimens. The fringes are long along the termen and largely dark brownish-black, white-tipped and wholly white around the apex. The hindwing is greyish-brown with bronzy-purple reflections. The fringes are grey-brown.[1]

The shiny white markings on the forewing of this species is variable.[4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[5] It is known from the northern North Island of New Zealand, from Te Paki south to Puketitri, Hawkes Bay and including Poor Knights, Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands.[1]

Ecology and Habitat

Adults have been found between September and March.[1]

It inhabits a wide variety of moist indigenous forest types but usually with podocarps.[6]

Larvae have been sieved from rotten wood on the floor of a mixed podocarp/broadleaf forest or extracted from moss or from bryophytes on a ditch wall.[1]

Behaviour

Z. zonodoxa are day flying moths and have been seen visiting the flowers of Nikau in large numbers.[4] They have been collecting using UV light.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gibbs, G W (30 June 2014). "Micropterigidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 72: 1–127. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.72. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Palaeomicra zonodoxa Meyrick, 1888". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  3. ↑ Meyrick, Edward (1888). "Descriptions on New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 20: 77–106 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. 1 2 Hoare, Robert (2014). A photographic guide to moths & butterflies of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd. p. 14. ISBN 9781869663995.
  5. ↑ "Zealandopterix zonodoxa (Meyrick, 1888)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  6. ↑ George W. Gibbs (2010). "Micropterigidae (Lepidoptera) of the Southwestern Pacific: a revision with the establishment of five new genera from Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand" (PDF). Magnolia Press.


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