Tingena aphrontis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae.[2] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at altitudes between 3000 - 5000 ft at Arthur's Pass and Mount Arthur. The species lives in open alpine habitat amongst alpine vegetation. Adults of the species are on the wing in January.
| Tingena aphrontis | |
|---|---|
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| Male lectotype | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Tingena |
| Species: | T. aphrontis
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| Binomial name | |
| Tingena aphrontis | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Taxonomy edit
This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1883 using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass at 5000 ft in January and named Cremnogenes aphrontis.[3] Meyrick gave a more detailed description under this name in 1884.[4] In 1915 Meyrick placed this species within the Borkhausenia genus.[5] George Hudson illustrated and discussed this species under the name B. aphrontis in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[6] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Tingena.[2] The male lectotype, collected at Arthur's Pass, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]
Description edit
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Meyrick first described this species as follows:
Fore wings ochreous-yellow, partially suffused with grey, with a black discal dot ; hind wings dark grey, paler towards base.[3]
In 1884 Meyrick went into more detail, describing this species as follows:
Male, female. — 12-14+1⁄2 mm. Head and palpi ochreous-yellow, anterior edge of palpi suffusedly dark fuscous. Antennae blackish. Thorax dark fuscous, with yellowish lateral and posterior spots. Abdomen dark grey, posteriorly becoming whitish-ochreous. Legs dark grey, apex of joints obscurely ochreous-whitish, posterior tibiae with very dense ochreous-whitish hairs. Forewings moderate, costa moderately arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin very obliquely rounded ; grey, more or less wholly suffused irregularly with ochreous yellow ; a blackish dot in disc beyond middle : cilia pale ochreous-yellow, somewhat mixed with grey. Hindwings grey, darker towards apex : cilia ochreous-whitish, suffused with dark grey towards base.[4]
This species is variable as the grey coloured patches are sometimes absent in some specimens.[6]
Distribution edit
It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at Mount Arthur and at Arthur's pass at altitudes of between 3000 - 5000 ft.[1][6]
Behaviour edit
This species is on the wing in January.[6]
Habitat edit
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This species lives in open alpine habitat amongst alpine vegetation such as grass and herbs.[4][6]
References edit
- ^ a b Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 462. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b c d 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: 99. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b Edward Meyrick (September 1883). "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera.—III.—Oecophoridae". New Zealand Journal of Science. 1: 525. Wikidata Q106368126.
- ^ a b c Edward Meyrick (1884). "Descriptions of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. III. Oecophoridae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16: 42. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63976486.
- ^ E. Meyrick (12 July 1915). "Revision of New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47: 213. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63123349.
- ^ a b c d e George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 267, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286