Glyphipterix acronoma is a species of sedge moth in the genus Glyphipterix. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. It's preferred habitat is open fields on mountain sides and adults are on the wing in December and January.
| Glyphipterix acronoma | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Glyphipterigidae |
| Genus: | Glyphipterix |
| Species: | G. acronoma
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| Binomial name | |
| Glyphipterix acronoma | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Taxonomy edit
This species was first described in 1888 by Edward Meyrick under the name Glyphipteryx acronoma.[1][2] Meyrick used two specimens collected in January at approximately 4000 ft up Mount Arthur to describe the species.[2] George Hudson also used this name when describing and illustrating this species in 1928.[3] In 1986 the genus Glyphipteryx was judged an unjustified emendation of Glyphipterix Hübner so this species is now known as Glyphipterix acronoma.[4][5]
The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[1]
Description edit
Meyrick described this species as follows:
Male, female. — 10-11 mm. Head and thorax deep greyish-bronze, thorax with a small posterior white spot. Palpi white, second joint with four black bands, terminal joint black in front. Antennae and abdomen dark fuscous. Legs dark fuscous, ringed with whitish. Forewings elongate, costa gently arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin sinuate, oblique ; rather deep greyish-bronze, posterior half mixed with light bronzy-ochreous ; an ochreous-white oblique streak from costa at 1⁄3, broadest in middle, apex acute, reaching half across wing ; a slender white slightly curved fascia from middle of costa to inner margin beyond middle, sometimes indistinct in disc, forming a small spot on inner margin ; a silvery-blue-metallic slightly curved slender fascia from 2⁄3 of costa to 3⁄4 of inner margin, becoming white at extremities ; three short silvery-blue-metallic streaks from costa between this and apex, forming white dots on costa, last margining a round black apical spot ; a subtriangular black anal patch, containing four round violet-golden-metallic spots : cilia grey, with a blackish line near base, interrupted by a triangular white indentation above middle. Hindwings dark grey ; cilia grey.[2]
Alfred Philpott studied the maxillae parts of lepidoptera including this species and stated that the genus to which this species belongs had palp that were three or four segmented and were smaller than other genera studied.[6]
Distribution edit
G. acronoma is endemic to New Zealand.[7][8] As well as the type locality of Mount Arthur, this species has been found at Waimarino and Gollan's Valley in Wellington both in the North Island, as well as in Fiordland, near the Mararoa River in Southland,[9] and in the Queenstown Lakes District,[9] all in the South Island.[3][10]
Lifecycle and behaviour edit
This species is on the wing in December and January.[3]
Habitat edit
The preferred habitat of this species is open fields on mountain sides.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- ^ a b c Meyrick, Edward (May 1888). "Descriptions on New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 20: 77–106 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b c d Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 316. OCLC 25449322.
- ^ Pitkin, Brian; Jenkins, Paul (5 November 2004). "Glyphipteryx - Butterflies and Moths of the World". www.nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Glyphipterix acronoma". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ Philpott, Alfred (1927-01-01). "The maxillae in the Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 57: 721–746 – via PapersPast.
- ^ "Glyphipterix acronoma Meyrick, 1888". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 460. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b Clarke, Charles E. (1933-02-01). "The Lepidoptera of the Te Anau-Manapouri lakes districts". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 63 (2): 112–132 – via PapersPast.
- ^ Hudson, G. V. (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 458. OCLC 221041540. Retrieved 7 April 2019.