Lysiphragma argentaria is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.
| Lysiphragma argentaria | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male holotype | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tineidae |
| Genus: | Lysiphragma |
| Species: | L. argentaria
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lysiphragma argentaria | |
Taxonomy edit
This species was first described by John Salmon in 1948 using a specimen collected by Graham Turbott on 22 April 1946 on Great Island at the Three Kings Islands.[2][3] The family level classification of this endemic moth is regarded as unsatisfactory, and it is not correctly placed in the genus Lysiphragma.[3] As such the species is currently also known as Lysiphragma (s.l.) argentaria.[1][4] The holotype specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[3][5]
Description edit
Salmon described this species as follows:
The expansion of the wings is 12 mm. The general colour is silvery white on the forewings and head ; pale grey on the thorax ; with patagia whitish ; pale-ochreous white on the abdomen and silvery-grey on the hind wings, with strong metallic reflections. The forewings are clouded with scattered grey scales along the costa from the base to about three-quarters ; there is an apical cloudy-grey patch and a similar sub-apical patch on the tornus ; basal streak marked by a line of yellowish-orange terminated by two or three very dark-brown scales. Cilia of the forewings pale-brown, of the hind wings silvery-grey. The costa of the forewings is gently arched, the dorsum almost straight, the apex rounded and acute. Antennae dark-brown banded with white ; palpi brown shaded with white. Head and thorax heavily scaled. Legs greyish-white.[2]
Distribution edit
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][4] It is only found on the Three Kings Islands.[6]
Biology and behaviour edit
Much of the biology of this species is unknown.[6] This species is attracted to light.[2] Adults of this species are on the wing in April.[5]
Host species and habitat edit
The holotype specimen was collected on a "tea tree".[5]
Conservation status edit
This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Lysiphragma argentaria Salmon, 1948". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Salmon, J. T. (1948). "New Species and Records of Lepidoptera from the Three Kings Islands, New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 3: 309–311. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906019. Wikidata Q58676668.
- ^ a b c Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera – annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 214. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ a b Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 465. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b c "Lysiphragma argentaria". Auckland War Memorial Museum. 22 November 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ a b Hoare, Robert J. B. (2001). New Zealand's most enigmatic moth : what we know about Titanomis sisyrota (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation. p. 6. ISBN 0478221665. OCLC 54343129.
- ^ 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: 9.