Compsistis bifaciella is a moth of the family Lecithoceridae.[2][3] It is endemic to New Zealand and found throughout the North Island.
| Compsistis bifaciella | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lecithoceridae |
| Genus: | Compsistis |
| Species: | C. bifaciella
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| Binomial name | |
| Compsistis bifaciella | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description edit
Dugdale described the larvae of this species as follows:
Body with bands of short, stiff setulae on broad sclerites (pinacula) only ; thoracic SV setal group (above foreleg base) with 6—10 short setulae arranged horizontally; head capsule ventrally with menrum simple (no concave sclerite, no paired dark slits); body length 10 mm[4]
Distribution edit
This species is endemic to New Zealand and found throughout the North Island.[1][5]
Habitat and hosts edit
This species inhabits native forest.[5] Larvae feed on leaf litter, living in a silk gallery either on the ground or in tree ferns.[5] They pupate in a leaf litter coated dome shaped cocoon normally resting on a dead leaf.[5][4]
Behaviour edit
The adults of this species are on the wing from October to January, though occasionally they have also been recorded in February.[5] It is a day flying moth and is difficult to observe when on the wing.[5] Adults tend be active on sunny days and but can be observed when settled on vegetation.[5] This species has been collected via sweeping of vegetation and malaise traps.[5][6]
References edit
- ^ a b "Compsistis bifaciella (Walker, 1864)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ a b 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: 1–264. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ Robert J. B. Hoare (24 December 2005). "Hierodoris (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae), and overview of Oecophoridae" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 54. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research: 11. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.54. ISSN 0111-5383. OCLC 946510444. Wikidata Q44994400. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2021.
- ^ a b J. S. Dugdale (June 1996). "Natural history and identification of litter‐feeding Lepidoptera larvae (Insecta) in beech forests, Orongorongo Valley, New Zealand, with especial reference to the diet of mice(Mus musculus)". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 26 (2): 251–274. doi:10.1080/03014223.1996.9517513. ISSN 0303-6758. Wikidata Q56091899.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hoare, Robert J. B. (2014). A photographic guide to moths & butterflies of New Zealand. Olivier Ball. Auckland. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-86966-399-5. OCLC 891672034.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Watts, C. (February 2018). Ecology supplementary report – Terrestrial Invertebrates (PDF) (Report). NZ Transport Agency. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
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