Scoriodyta conisalia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Psychidae
Genus: Scoriodyta
Species:
S. conisalia
Binomial name
Scoriodyta conisalia

Scoriodyta conisalia is a species of moth in the family Psychidae.[1] It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North Island. It has been observed at Karikari, Paihia, in the Poor Knights Islands, and in the Auckland and Wellington regions. The species inhabits native forest and coastal areas where it can be found on rocky outcrops and cliffs. Larvae consume algae and lichens. The adults are on the wing from September to March and are active before sunrise.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 using specimens collected in Wellington in January.[2] In 1927 Alfred Philpott studied the male genitalia of this species.[3] Hudson discussed this species and illustrated the male in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[4] In 1989 this species was discussed in detail and illustrated.[5] The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[6]

Description

Living specimen.

The larva of S. conisalia is coloured dark brown.[5]

Meyrick described the adult male of this species as follows:

Male. — 10 mm. Head, palpi, antennae, thorax, and abdomen fuscous. Legs dark fuscous, apex of joints ochreous-whitish, posterior tibiae ochreous-whitish. Forewings elongate, costa gently arched, apex rounded, hindmargin very obliquely rounded ; fuscous, irrorated with blackish ; some scattered white scales, tending to form irregular transverse strigulae ; the absence of these appears to form darker median and subterminal fasciae ; a distinct white double spot on inner margin before middle, and a very small one before anal angle ; a hindmarginal row of cloudy white dots : cilia fuscous, mixed with grey- whitish, with a cloudy dark fuscous line near base. Hindwings fuscous-grey ; cilia whitish-grey, with a fuscous basal line.[2]

The female is apterous.[7]

This species is a case moth with the case being spindle shaped.[4] It was also described by P. Hättenschwiler as follows:

Flat, with distinct lateral margin, surface irregularly decorated with sand and lichen; before pupation case is coated with loose silk web. Dimensions:6.0-8.5 mml ong, 2-3 mm wide(♂♂); 7-12 mm long, 2.0-3.2 mm wide (♀♀)[5]

Distribution

S. conisalia is endemic to New Zealand.[8] This species has been observed only in the North Island at Karikari, Paihia, in the Poor Knights Islands, and in the Auckland and Wellington regions.[9][5]

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits native forest as well as coastal areas preferring rocky outcrops and cliffs, often at locations exposed to sea spray.[4][5] Larvae consume algae and lichens.[5] Hudson stated that one of the larval host species is Pleurococcus vulgaris.[4] The larval cases can be found on fences and tree trunks.[4]

Behaviour

Larvae pupate in September with adult males being on the wing from September to March.[9][5] The female, once she has emerged, stands motionless on the larval case awaiting the winged male. Adult males have been successfully collected before sunrise on damp days.[10]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scoriodyta conisalia.
Wikispecies has information related to Scoriodyta conisalia.
  1. 1 2 Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 463. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  2. 1 2 Edward Meyrick (1888). "Descriptions on New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 20: 102. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q114396003.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ↑ Alfred Philpott (1927). "The Male Genitalia of the New Zealand Tineidae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 93–101. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q115586743.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 354, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 P. Hättenschwiler (January 1989). "Genus Scoriodyta Meyrick, 1888, a new subfamily and description of new species and forms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 16 (1): 51–63. doi:10.1080/03014223.1989.10423703. ISSN 0301-4223. Wikidata Q54490382.
  6. ↑ John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 69. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
  7. ↑ E. Meyrick (12 July 1915). "Revision of New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47: 241. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63123349.
  8. ↑ "Scoriodyta conisalia Meyrick, 1888". New Zealand Organisms Register. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  9. 1 2 J. Charles Watt (September 1982). "Terrestrial arthropods from the Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 12 (3): 283–320. doi:10.1080/03036758.1982.10415350. ISSN 0303-6758. Wikidata Q54574800.
  10. ↑ Charles E. Clarke (February 1933). "The Lepidoptera of the Te Anau-Manapouri Lakes Districts". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 63 (2): 115. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q62934927.
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