Epichorista lindsayi

Epichorista lindsayi is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as Nationally Endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Epichorista lindsayi

Nationally Endangered (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Epichorista
Species:
E. lindsayi
Binomial name
Epichorista lindsayi

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1928 and named after its collector Stuart Lindsay.[3] Lindsay collected two males of the species at Little River on 29 January 1928.[4] George Vernon Hudson described and illustrated the species in his 1939 publication A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[5] The genus level classification of New Zealand endemic moths within the genus Epichorista is regarded as unsatisfactory and is under revision.[4] As such this species is currently also known as Epichorista (s.l.) lindsayi.[2] The type specimen is held at the Canterbury Museum.[2]

Description

E. lindsayi is very similar in appearance to Eurythecta eremana but can be distinguished by the differences in the venational structure of its wings.[3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[2][6] It has only ever been found on the Banks Peninsula.[7][4]

Habitat

This species occurs in grassy glades dominated by the species Microlaena polynoda in lowland mature podocarp forest.[7][4]

Biology and life history

This species is a day flying moth.[7][4]

Host plants

This species is associated with Microlaena polynoda and this plant likely hosts E. lindsayi.[4][7]

Conservation status

E. lindsayi has been classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Endangered.[1]

References
  1. 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). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 6. ISBN 9781988514383.
  2. "Epichorista lindsayi Philpott, 1928". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  3. Philpott, Alfred (1928). "Some new species of Lepidoptera". Records of the Canterbury Museum. 3: 181–183. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  4. Patrick, Brian (2014-12-01). "Conservation status of five data deficient moth taxa: Epichorista lindsayi, "Cnephasia" paterna, Stathmopoda endotherma, Gymnobathra ambigua and Scythris "stripe"". The Weta. 48: 15–34.
  5. Hudson, George Vernon (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn. p. 464. 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. 464. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  7. Scott Hooson (2 September 2014). Christchurch District Plan Site of Ecological Significance: Breitmeyers (PDF) (Report). Christchurch City Council. pp. 1–17. Retrieved 2 May 2018.


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