Bityla sericea is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
| Bityla sericea | |
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Bityla |
| Species: | B. sericea
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| Binomial name | |
| Bityla sericea | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Taxonomy edit
This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 using a specimen obtained from John Enys and collected in the South Island.[1][2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species both in his 1898 book, New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) and his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[3][4] In 1905 Hudson, thinking he was describing a new species, also gave the species the name Orthosia pallida.[5] George Francis Hampson, also mistakenly believing this was a separate species placed O. pallida in the genus Bityla.[6] Hudson discussed B. pallida in his 1928 publication.[4] John S. Dugdale synonymised B. pallida with B. sericea in 1988.[1] The holotype specimen of B. sericea is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[1]
Description edit
Butler described the species as follows:
Primaries shining greyish brown, crossed by two widely separated and slightly diverging dusky lines, the inner one in the shape of a } , the outer one composed of small lunules with whitish exterior margins ; outer margin undulated, fringe silky whitish ; secondaries pale brown, fringe sandy whitish ; thorax greyish brown,' collar slightly darker ; abdomen ? : primaries below pale grey, costa and fringe whitish ; secondaries whitish, with a submarginal indistinct grey band, and the outer border, of the same tint, fringe whitish; pectus sandy yellowish, dusky in front ; legs sandy yellowish, banded with black. Expanse of wings 1 inch 6 lines.[2]
Although similar in appearance to Bityla defigurata, B. sericea can be distinguished from it as B. sericea has a pale fringe on its forewing.[7]
Distribution edit
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[8][9] The species has been found in Wellington, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, Central Otago and at the Otago Lakes areas.[10] Hudson mentions the species was also collected in Thames[4] and in Napier.[5]
Behaviour and life cycle edit
The adult moths are on the wing from February to May.[4] They are attracted to light.[3]
Host species and habitat edit
The host of the larvae of B. sericea is unknown but they probably feed on Muehlenbeckia species.[10]
Conservation status edit
This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[11]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 195. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ a b Butler, Arthur Gardiner (1877). "On two Collections of Heterocerous Lepidoptera from New Zealand, with descriptions of new Genera and Species". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1877: 379–407 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & Co. pp. 29–30. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 76.
- ^ a b Hudson, G. V. (1905). "On some new species of macro-lepidoptera in New Zealand". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 37: 355–358 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Hampson, George Francis (1908). "Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Noctuidae in the British museum". Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaena in the British Museum. 7: 1–709 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Pawson, Stephen M.; Emberson, Rowan M. (2000). "The conservation status of invertebrates in Canterbury". Conservation Advisory Science Notes. hdl:10182/1658. ISSN 1171-9834.
- ^ "Bityla sericea Butler, 1877". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
- ^ 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 Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 20. ISBN 0478218672. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^ 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.
External links edit
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