Ericodesma cuneata explained

Ericodesma cuneata, the Corokia leafroller moth, is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Charles E. Clarke in 1926 using a specimen collected by him at Hope Arm, Lake Manapouri and named Tortrix cuneata.[1] [2] In 1971 John S. Dugdale assigned Tortrix cuneata to the genus Ericodesma.[3] The holotype specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Description

Clarke described the species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[4] [5] E. cuneata can be found at Taupō, Otago Lakes and Fiordland. The species, although rare, can be found frequently at The Wilderness in Southland.[6]

Biology and behaviour

The larvae of this species web leaves together on the foliated stems of its host plant.[7]

Host species and habitat

The larvae of E. cuneata feed on Corokia cotoneaster, (korokio). However the moth has not been associated with urban plantings of its host.[8] The adult moth has been collected in beech forest habitat, as well as at strongly leached terraces and plains commonly called "wilderness".

Conservation status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 117. 20 May 2018. 27 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012448/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
  2. Clarke. Charles E.. New species of Lepidoptera.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 1926. 56. 417–421. 21 May 2018.
  3. Dugdale. J. S.. 10 November 1971. Entomology of the Aucklands and other Islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-Crambine Pyralidae. Pacific Insects Monograph. 27. 55–172. Bishop Museum.
  4. Book: New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. Canterbury University Press. 2010. 9781877257933. Gordon. Dennis P.. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.. 464. 973607714.
  5. Web site: Ericodesma cuneata (Clarke, 1926). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-05-21.
  6. Book: Ecosystem services in New Zealand.. 2013. Manaaki Whenua Press. 9780478347364. Dymond. John R.. Lincoln, N.Z.. 58. New Zealand’s naturally uncommon ecosystems. 870683169.
  7. Web site: PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database. 2011. plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-05-21.
  8. Patrick. B. H.. Dugdale. J. S.. 2000. Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera. Science for Conservation. Department of Conservation, New Zealand. 136. 27. 1173-2946. 2018-05-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20170501193054/http://doc.org.nz/Documents/science-and-technical/sfc136.pdf. 2017-05-01. dead.
  9. 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.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ericodesma cuneata".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.