Eudonia ustiramis explained

Eudonia ustiramis is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931 using a specimen collected by S.C. Patterson in Whangārei in January and named Scoparia ustiramis.^{[1] [2]} George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1939 book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.^[3] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned this species to the genus Eudonia. The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows: The wing pattern of this species is variable and the holotype has strong dark longitudinal streaks on its forewings.^[4] Other specimens of this species have been confirmed through the comparison of male genitalia.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^{[5] [6]} For many years this species was only known from its type locality. However, in recent years it has been identified as a very locally common species of Northland and Auckland.

Habitat

This species is known to inhabit gumland heaths.

Conservation status

This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.^[7]

External links

• Image of holotype specimen.

Notes and References

1. Meyrick. E.. 1931. New species of New Zealand Lepidoptera.. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 62. 92–97. National Library of New Zealand.
2. Dugdale. J. S.. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 1988. 14. 158. 27 January 2018. 27 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012448/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
3. Book: A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.. Hudson. G. V.. 1939. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. Wellington. 423. 221041540. George Hudson (entomologist). 4 June 2018.
4. Web site: Larger moths of New Zealand: Image gallery and online guide. : Notes on Scopariinae. Hoare. R. J. B.. Rhode. B. E.. 2012. www.landcareresearch.co.nz. 4 June 2018. Emmerson. A. W..
5. 458.
6. Web site: Eudonia ustiramis (Meyrick, 1931). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 27 January 2018.
7. 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.