Eudonia aspidota

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Eudonia aspidota
Eudonia aspidota female.jpg
Female
Eudonia aspidota male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Eudonia
Species:
E. aspidota
Binomial name
Eudonia aspidota
(Meyrick, 1884)
Synonyms
  • Xeroscopa aspidota Meyrick, 1884
  • (Meyrick, 1884) Scoparia aspidota

Eudonia aspidota is a moth in the family Crambidae. It is found in New Zealand and can be found in the North, South and Stewart Islands. The species inhabits native forest and its larvae lives on mosses.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1884 and named Xeroscopa aspidota.[1][2] Meyrick added further detail when he described the species in 1885.[3] In 1913 Meyrick placed the species within the genus Scoparia.[4] George Hudson described and illustrated this species in the book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[5] In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Eudonia.[6] The male lectotype, collected at Ben Lomond by Meyrick, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[6]

Description

Illustration by George Hudson.

The wingspan is 22–26 mm. The forewings are light ochreous, sometimes mixed with reddish-ochreous. There is a black white-margined triangular spot on the costa. The hindwings are pale grey with a darker grey post medial and hind marginal line.[3]

Although the wing markings of this species attract attention, they also imitate bird droppings.[5] This mimicry offers protection to E. aspidota when it is not in flight.[5]

Distribution

Ben Lomond, type locality of this species.

E. aspidota is endemic in New Zealand.[7] Meyrick stated it could be found in Wellington, Castle Hill, Mount Hutt, Dunedin and Lake Wakatipu.[3] George Hudson added to the localities where E. aspidota could be found and included Raurimu, Waimarino, Buller River, Invercargill and Stewart Island.[5] Hudson was of the opinion that the species was probably distributed throughout New Zealand.[5]

Habitat and hosts

The habitat of this species is amongst forest.[5]

Host plants

The larvae of this species lives on mosses.[8][9]

Behaviour

Adults of E. aspidota are normally present during December and January.[3][10] This species is attracted to light.[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eudonia aspidota.
  1. ^ Meyrick, Edward (1884). "Descriptions of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. IV. Scopariadae". New Zealand Journal of Science. 2: 235–237 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. ^ No label or title -- debug: Q45922947, p. 458, Wikidata Q45922947
  3. ^ a b c d Meyrick, E. (1884). "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 17: 68–149 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. ^ Meyrick, E. (1913). "A revision of New Zealand Pyralidina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 45: 30–51 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. pp. 201–202.
  6. ^ a b No label or title -- debug: Q45083134, p. 160, Wikidata Q45083134
  7. ^ "Eudonia aspidota (Meyrick, 1884)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  8. ^ Patrick, Hamish J.H.; Bowie, Mike H.; Fox, Barry W.; Patrick, Brian H. (2011). "The moths of Quail Island (Ōtamahua): a faunal comparison of an island under restoration with other sites on Banks Peninsula" (PDF). New Zealand Natural Sciences. 36: 57–72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  9. ^ No label or title -- debug: Q113345596, Wikidata Q113345596
  10. ^ No label or title -- debug: Q110318301, Wikidata Q110318301

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