Stathmopoda aristodoxa

Stathmopoda aristodoxa is a species of moth in the family Stathmopodidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Stathmopoda aristodoxa
Scientific classification
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S. aristodoxa
Binomial name
Stathmopoda aristodoxa

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1926 using a specimen collected in Gollan's Valley, Wellington in November by George Hudson.[2][3] Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] He also adding to the recorded localities of this species in 1939.[5] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

Description

Meyrick described this species as follows:

♂. 13 mm. Head silvery-white, crown grey. Palpi white. Thorax shining white, shoulders dark grey, edged posteriorly with some ferruginous scales. Forewings narrowed from near base, acute; pale ochreous; costal edge suffused dark grey from base to 13, thence undefined broader violet-grey costal suffusion to 23; an oblique blotch of dark violet-grey suffusion from base of costa, whence a slender ferruginous-brown partially grey-suffused supramedian streak runs to just below apex, its apex enlarged into a wedge-shaped spot; two shining snow-white dorsal blotches reaching supramedian streak, first semicircular, second suboval, inwards-oblique, these preceded, separated, and followed by spots of orange-ferruginous suffusion somewhat marked irregularly dark grey; some orange-ferruginous suffusion along termen except at apex: cilia grey, on costa mixed pale ochreous. Hindwings rather dark grey; cilia grey. [3]

Distribution

S. aristodoxa is endemic to New Zealand.[6][1] Other than the type locality, this species has been recorded at Pohangina.[5] This species is also regarded as being present in Auckland.[7]

Biology and life cycle

Adult moths of this species are on the wing in November.[3]

Host species and habitat

As this moth belongs to the genus Stathmopoda its larvae, like those of other species in the genus, may feed on scale insects.[8]

Conservation Status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[9]

References

  1. "Stathmopoda aristodoxa Meyrick, 1926". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  2. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 108 via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
  3. Meyrick, Edward (1926). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 56: 415–416.
  4. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 298.
  5. Hudson, G. V. (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn. p. 456. OCLC 9742724.
  6. 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.
  7. CMS, conservation management strategy. Auckland 2014-2024 (PDF). Auckland, N.Z: New Zealand Department of Conservation. 2014. p. 204. ISBN 9780478150278. OCLC 901376007.
  8. Patrick, Brian (2014). "Conservation status of five data deficient moth taxa: Epichorista lindsayi, "Cnephasia" paterna, Stathmopoda endotherma, Gymnobathra ambigua and Scythris "stripe"". The Weta. 48: 15–35.
  9. 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: 8.


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