Gadira acerella
| Gadira acerella | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Crambidae |
| Subfamily: | Crambinae |
| Tribe: | Chiloini |
| Genus: | Gadira |
| Species: | G. acerella
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| Binomial name | |
| Gadira acerella | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Gadira acerella is a moth in the family Crambidae.[1] It was first described by Francis Walker. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country. The species inhabits native forest from sea level up to subalpine altitudes. Larvae are assumed to feed on lichen or moss. Adults are on the wing from October until March, are active at night and are attracted to light. This species is distinctively patterned and coloured and is said to resemble a bird dropping at rest. The colouring also assists to camouflage the moth when it rests against lichen.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1866 using specimens collected in Nelson by T. R. Oxley.[3][2] In 1875, thinking they were describing a new species, Cajetan von Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer named this species Botys mahanga.[4][2] This name was synonymised by Edward Meyrick in 1883.[5][2] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[6] D. E. Gaskin, in 1973, discussed this synonym but incorrectly spelt the epithet as mehanga.[2] The male holotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]
Description
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Walker described the female of the species as follows:
Female. Aeneous-brown, whitish beneath. Head whitish. Thorax with a whitish stripe. Abdomen and hind wings aeneous-cinereous. Fore wings with whitish veins and with two whitish oblique lines, which diverge from each other near the interior border ; a transversely elongated black spot including a little longitudinal white streak; two exterior outward-curved white lines, of which the inner one is broader than the other; a few black streaks and speckles; fringe white. Hind wings aeneous-cinereous, with a white aeneous-bordered subinarginal line. Length of the body 3 lines; of the wings 9 lines.[3]
This species is distinctively patterned and coloured.[6]
Distribution
[edit]This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country.[7][8] It is regarded as being fairly common.[8]
Habitat and hosts
[edit]This species inhabits native forest and can be found at altitudes from sea level up to subalpine.[8] The larvae of this species are assumed to feed on lichen or mosses.[9][8] Larvae have been observed on lichen covered rocks.[10]
Behaviour
[edit]
The life history of this species is currently unknown.[8] Adults are on the wing from October until March.[8][11] They are active at night and are attracted to light.[8] This species rests with its wings together over its body in a steep V shape.[8] The adults of the species have frequently been observed resting on lichen covered rocks and fences.[6] Hudson was of the opinion that the raised scales and colouring on the forewing caused an at rest adult to resemble a bird dropping.[6] It has also been suggested the raised scales and colouring on the forewing are disruptive and ensures the adult moth blends in with lichens upon which the moth prefers to rest.[8]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 457. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b c d e f John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 144. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b Francis Walker (1866), List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part XXXV. - supplement, part 5., London, pp. 1742–1743, Wikidata Q115099201
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Felder, Cajetan; Rogenhofer, Alois Friedrich (1864–1867). "Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara". Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. Von W. pt.9:Bd.2:Abt.2 (1864-1867) Atlas: Plate CXXXVII fig 27 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Edward Meyrick (May 1883). "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 15: 8. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q115099569.
- ^ a b c d George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, pp. 176–177, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286
- ^ "Gadira acerella Walker, 1866". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Robert Hoare (2014). A Photographic Guide to Moths & Butterflies of New Zealand. Illustrator: Olivier Jean-Philippe Ball. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-86966-399-5. Wikidata Q59396160.
- ^ "Gadira acerella". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
- ^ Brian H. Patrick (1994), Coastal butterflies and moths of Wellington and South Wairarapa. (PDF), Wikidata Q110426707, archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2021
- ^ "Gadira acerella". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2022-11-06.