Archyala culta explained

Archyala culta is a species of moth in the family Tineidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation. This species has only been collected at Opoho and is only known from its type specimen.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Alfred Philpott in 1931 from a specimen collected by Charles E. Clarke at Opoho, Dunedin on the 17 December 1921.^{[1] [2] [3]} In 1939 George Hudson discussed and illustrated the species.^[4] The holotype specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Description

Philpott described the species as follows:Hudson stated that this species could be distinguished by the peculiar outline of the costa of fore-wings, and absence of any tendency for the strigulae to coalesce in pairs.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^{[5] [6]} This species is only known from its type specimen and at its type locality of Opoho.^[7]

Life history

It has been hypothesised that larvae of this species inhabits dead wood, boring into it and feeding on it.

Conservation status

This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Philpott. Alfred. Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 1931. 62. 26–36. 30 May 2018.
2. 59.
3. Web site: Archyala culta. Auckland War Memorial Museum. 30 May 2018.
4. 464.
5. Web site: Archyala culta Philpott, 1931. www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand. 30 May 2018.
6. 463.
7. Patrick. B. H.. Dugdale. J. S.. 2000. Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera. Science for Conservation. Department of Conservation, New Zealand. 136. 19. 1173-2946. 2018-05-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20170501193054/http://doc.org.nz/Documents/science-and-technical/sfc136.pdf. 2017-05-01. dead.
8. Hoare. R.J.B.. Dugdale. J.S.. Edwards. E.D.. Gibbs. G.W.. Patrick. B.H.. Hitchmough. R.A.. Rolfe. J.R.. 2017. Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20. 8.