Dumbletonius characterifer

Dumbletonius characterifer is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand.[2] It was first described by Francis Walker in 1865.[3]

Dumbletonius characterifer
Female specimen
Male specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hepialidae
Genus: Dumbletonius
Species:
D. characterifer
Binomial name
Dumbletonius characterifer
(Walker, 1865)
Synonyms
  • Hepialus characterifer Walker, 1865
  • Oxycanus impletus Walker, 1865
  • Porina mairi Buller, 1873

The wingspan is 56–70 mm (2.2–2.8 in) for males and 72–95 mm (2.8–3.7 in) for females. There is a complex ocellate pattern with bicoloured scales on the forewings. The hindwings are dark brown. Adults are on wing from November to April.[4] D. characterifer is present in the Waikato, Taupo, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough and Marlborough Sounds, Buller and Westland regions.[4]

The larvae feed on leaf litter.[citation needed] They built tunnels in the leaf litter from which they feed.[5]

The northern most location this species has been observed at is Mount Te Aroha.[5] This species has been known to be infected by Ophiocordyceps robertsii, the vegetable caterpillar fungus.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Dumbletonius characterifer (Walker, 1865)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  2. ^ Nielsen, Ebbe S.; Robinson, Gaden S.; Wagner, David L. (2000). "Ghost-moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia (Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea) (Lepidoptera )" (PDF). Journal of Natural History. 34 (6): 823–878. doi:10.1080/002229300299282. S2CID 86004391.
  3. ^ Walker, Francis (1865). "Supplement, part 2". List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. 32: 323–706 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. ^ a b Dugdale, J. S. (1994). "Hepialidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 30: 57 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
  5. ^ a b c Robert Hoare (2020), The Moths of Mt Te Aroha (PDF), pp. 1–11, Wikidata Q113345596, archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2022