Cnephasia paterna 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.
| Cnephasia paterna | |
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| Species: | C. paterna
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| Cnephasia paterna Philpott, 1926
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Taxonomy edit
C. paterna was described by Alfred Philpott in 1926 using a male specimen collected by Stuart Lindsay on the 31 March 1923.[2][3] George Vernon Hudson illustrated the type specimen of the moth in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] Although the type locality given by Philpott is Little River, evidence suggests that this locality is incorrect.[5] The genus level classification of New Zealand endemic moths within the genus Cnephasia is regarded as unsatisfactory and is under revision.[5] As such the species is currently also known as Cnephasia (s.l.) paterna.[6] The type specimen is held at Canterbury Museum.[5]
Description edit
Philpott described the species as follows:
21 mm. Head and palpi fuscous mingled with reddish. Antennae dark fuscous, annulated with whitish, swollen at joints, ciliations 3+1⁄2. Thorax leaden-fuscous. Abdomen greyish-fuscous. Legs ochreous-white mixed with fuscous, anterior pair fuscous, tarsi narrowly annulated with white. Forewings elongate-triangular, costa slightly arched at base, thence straight, apex round-pointed, termen straight, strongly oblique; leaden fuscous, densely strigulated with blackish and with scattered reddish scales; costal fold small, about 1⁄7; a strong outwardly-oblique fascia from costa at apex of fold, yellow mixed with red; a similarly-coloured fascia, preceded by numerous red scales, from costa before middle, outwardly oblique, parallel-sided, reaching about 1⁄3 across wing; a yellow-and-red spot on costa before apex; some indefinite white marks on apical area: fringes grey with a reddish basal line. Hindwings grey strigulated with fuscous: fringes whitish-grey.[2]
Distribution edit
This species is endemic to New Zealand[6][7] and has only been found in the South Island.[5] The type specimen remained unique until the species was rediscovered by Brian Patrick on the 28 May 2012 at Saddle Hill, Banks Peninsula.[5][8] This locality remains the only site where this species has been found.[5]
Habitat edit
The rediscovery of the species occurred on south-eastern slopes at an altitude of 750-800m amongst the snow tussock Chionochloa rigida.[5][9]
Life history and biology edit
Much information on biology and life cycle of this moth is yet to be discovered and the species has not yet been reared.[5] Patrick hypothesises that the larvae of this species feed in silken tunnels and that they have an annual life-cycle.[5] Adults emerge in the late autumn or early winter.[5] Hudson records the insect being collectable at the end of March.[4] The female of this species is short wings and flightless, which inhibits the dispersal of the species.[5] The male of the species are active during the day and are regarded as fast flyers.[5]
Conservation status edit
This species has been classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Endangered.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b 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. 30. ISBN 9781988514383.
- ^ a b Philpott, Alfred (1926). "New Zealand Lepidoptera: Notes and Descriptions". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 56: 387–399 – via Papers Past.
- ^ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2018-05-03 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- ^ a b Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 244.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. Archived from the original on 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
- ^ a b "Cnephasia paterna Philpott, 1926". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 464. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ Hutchison, Melissa (May 2013). "New reserve for Banks Peninsula: Saddle Hill purchased by the Nature Heritage Fund and two Banks Peninsula trusts" (PDF). Trilepidea. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ Scott Hooson (11 March 2015). Christchurch District Plan Site of Ecological Significance: Saddle Hill (PDF) (Report). Christchurch City Council. p. 6. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
External links edit
- Image of moth can be found on page 20 Archived 2018-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
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