Zapyrastra stellata

Zapyrastra stellata
Holotype specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Momphidae
Genus:
Zapyrastra
Species:
Z. stellata
Binomial name
Zapyrastra stellata
(Philpott, 1931)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Elachista stellata Philpott, 1931

Zapyrastra stellata is a species of moth of the family Momphidae first described by Alfred Philpott in 1931.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Otago. The larvae of this species mine the leaves of Meuhlenbeckia. Adults are on the wing in June and December.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1931 using a specimen collected by Charles E. Clarke in Wānaka (previously known as Pembroke) in December.[3][2] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Zapyrastra.[2] The male holotype specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[2] In 2019 Lauri Kaila placed this species in the genus Mompha stating "Current status: Mompha (as Zapyrastra) stellata (Philpott, 1931) (Momphidae); Dugdale (1988)".[4]

Description

This species was described by Philpott as follows:

♂. 7.5 mm. Head, antennae, thorax and abdomen bronzy brown. Palpi bronzy brown mixed with whitish. Legs bronzy brown, tibial spines on posterior pair white. Forewings with costa subsinuate, apex rounded, termen very oblique; bronzy brown; a large snow-white spot on costa at 5⁄6 reaching halfway across wing: fringes fuscous grey. Hindwings and fringes greyish fuscous.[3]

This species can be distinguished from other species with a similar appearance as it has a prominent white costal patch.[3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][2] Along with the type locality of Wānaka, this species has also been observed in Richmond Valley in Otago.[5]

Behaviour

As well as being collected in December, this species has been observed in flight in June.[3][6]

Host species

Host species, M complexa.

The larvae of this species mine Meuhlenbeckia leaves including Meuhlenbeckia complexa.[6][5][7]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zapyrastra stellata.
  1. ^ a b c "Zapyrastra stellata (Philpott, 1931)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 87. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
  3. ^ a b c d Alfred Philpott (1931). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 62: 31. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q109466059.
  4. ^ Lauri Kaila (11 July 2019). "An annotated catalogue of Elachistinae of the World (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae)". Zootaxa. 4632 (1): 181. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4632.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 31712495. Wikidata Q86984314.
  5. ^ a b "Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review. Cluden Station. Conservation Resources Report - Part 1" (PDF). www.linz.govt.nz. 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. ^ a b Graeme White (1991). "The Changing Abundance of Moths in a Tussock Grassland, 1962- 1989, and 50-Year to 70-Year Trends" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 15 (1): 18. ISSN 0110-6465. JSTOR 24054454. Wikidata Q107569572.
  7. ^ Brian H. Patrick (2021). "Indigenous hostplants of New Zealand's endemic Lepidoptera". Canterbury Botanical Society Journal. 52: 4–28. Wikidata Q110121933.