Asterivora combinatana is a species of moth in the family Choreutidae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at locations in both the North and South Islands. The larvae feed on Senecio bellidioides and Brachyglottis repanda either from within a silken gallery or alternatively a silken curtain under which they feed. It is double brooded with adults being on the wing from September until November and again from February until April. This species is a day flying moth. It is extremely variable both in colouration and in size. The female tends to be larger and paler than the male of the species.
| Asterivora combinatana | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Choreutidae |
| Genus: | Asterivora |
| Species: | A. combinatana
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| Binomial name | |
| Asterivora combinatana | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Taxonomy
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This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1863 and named Simaethis combinatana.[3] In 1883 Edward Meyrick synonymised Simaethis abstitella with Simaethis combinatana.[4][2] In 1927 Alfred Philpott studied the male genitalia of this species.[5] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Simaethis combinatana.[6] In that publication Hudson synonymised S. zomeuta with S. combinatana.[6] In 1979 J. S. Dugdale placed S. combinatana within the genus Asterivora.[7] In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement.[2] In the 1979 publication Dugdale treated S. zomeuta as a separate species and placed it within the genus Asterivora.[7] However, in his 1988 publication Dugdale synonymised A. zomeuta with A. combinatana.[2] The female lectotype specimen of A. combinatana, collected in Auckland, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]
Description
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Walker described this species as follows:
Cupreous-ferruginous. Body cinereous beneath. Palpi porrect, squamous, a little longer than the breadth of the head ; third joint almost linear, nearly half the length of the second. Antennae with white rings. Fore wings with four whitish transverse diffuse irregular undulating lines ; two of these are near the base, and two near the exterior border, and each pair is accompanied by numerous minute whitish speckles ; fringe with two whitish streaks. Length of the body lines ; of the wings 7 lines.[3]
This species is extremely variable both in colouration and in size.[6] The female tends to be larger and paler than the male of the species.[6] It is very similar in appearance to its sister species Asterivora colpota and is easily confused with the same.[8] Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:
It is somewhat stout, slightly tapering at each end. The head and first segment are pale brown and horny; the rest of the body being pale greenish-ochreous. Each segment is provided with eight black warts arranged in two rows consisting of two and six respectively. Each of these warts gives rise to a small black bristle. The length of the larva when full-grown is about 1 inch.[6]
Distribution
editIt is endemic to New Zealand.[1] This species has been observed in both the North and South Islands including at Kaeo, Waimarino, Ohakune, Wellington, Mount Arthur and the Ōtira River.[6]
Behaviour
editThis species is a day flying moth.[7] It is double brooded with adults being on the wing from September until November and again from February until April.[6] Whilst at rest this species places its wings backwards and slightly lifted, with the antennae extended and the hindwings often almost hidden.[6] Hudson described their flying manner as "fussy".[6]
Life history
editThe larvae feed on Senecio bellidioides and Brachyglottis repanda.[6] When feeding off S. bellidioides they live in a silken gallery, is formed amongst the young shoots of the plant.[6] When feeding on B. repanda they build a silken curtain under which they shelter and feed.[6] Pupation takes place in white silken cocoons amongst the dead shoots of their host plant.[6]
References
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- ^ a b c 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 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: 113. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b Francis Walker (1863), List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, Part XXVIII. - Tortricites and Tineites, London, p. 456, Wikidata Q109352878
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ E. Meyrick (1882). "Descriptions of Australian Micro-lepidoptera. VII. Revisional". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales (in English and English). 7: 184. doi:10.5962/BHL.PART.22744. ISSN 0370-047X. Wikidata Q56012061.
- ^ Alfred Philpott (15 November 1927). "The Male Genitalia of the New Zealand Glyphipterygidae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 337–347. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q110772020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 307, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286
- ^ a b c J. S. Dugdale (July 1979). "A new generic name for the New Zealand species previously assigned to Simaethis auctorum (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae), with description of a new species". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 6 (3): 461–466. doi:10.1080/03014223.1979.10428386. ISSN 0301-4223. Wikidata Q54576372.
- ^ E. Meyrick (1 July 1911). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 67. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q58200989.