Reductoderces cawthronella
| Reductoderces cawthronella | |
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| Illustration of male | |
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| Species: | R. cawthronella
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| Reductoderces cawthronella (Philpott, 1921)
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Reductoderces cawthronella is a moth of the Psychidae family.[1] It was described by Alfred Philpott in 1921. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1921, using specimens collected on Botanical Hill in Nelson, and named Taleporia cawthronella.[2][3] This species was illustrated and discussed in 1928 by George Hudson using that name.[4] In 1972 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Reductoderces.[5] This placement was confirmed by Dugdale in 1988.[3] The male holotype is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[3]
Description
Philpott described the adults of this species as follows:
♂. 9 mm. Head and thorax ochreous-grey Palpi whitish. Antennae grey annulated with black, ciliations 3. Abdomen grey-fuscous. Legs grey-whitish. Forewings, costa slightly arched, faintly sinuate, apex rounded, termen strongly oblique; whitish-grey, slightly ochreous and irrorated with fuscous especially on basal ¾; base of costa irregularly brownish-black to ¼; a rather large brownish-black spot on costa at ½; three smaller brownish-black spots on costa on apical ⅓; an irregular transverse brownish-black discal spot; a series of small blackish-brown spots round termen: cilia grey-whitish. Hindwings and cilia fuscous-grey.[2]
The larva inhabits a fragile case which is pear shaped and is approximately 1/4 inch long and 1/8 inch wide.[3] Hudson described the larvae of this species as follows:
The head of the pupa is well separated from the thorax, and the legs reach quite to the extremity of the abdomen. On the dorsal surface of the last abdominal segment there is a transverse row of stout recurved spines; these probably serve to keep the pupa from slipping from the case when the emergence of the imago is taking place.[4]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[6] It has been collected in Nelson.[4]
Hosts
It has been hypothesised that larvae in this genus are lichen or alga-browsers.[3]
Behaviour and life cycle
The larvae inhabit a case made from fragments of a white lichen.[3] It travels in the case by extending its head and throax and then lifting the case clear and forward.[3] The larvae pupate at the end of June by attaching its case to a stone, twig or leaf.[3] The attachment enables the case to swing in multiple directions.[3] The adults emerge from the beginning of August until the middle of October.[3]
References
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 463. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b Alfred Philpott (1921). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 53: 341–342. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q59640501.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 69. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b c Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 351, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286
- ^ Dugdale, J. S. (10 November 1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae". Pacific Insects Monographs. 27: 141. ISSN 0078-7515. Wikidata Q64006453.
- ^ "Reductoderces cawthronella (Philpott, 1921)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
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