Homoeosoma anaspila explained

Homoeosoma anaspila is a species of snout moth in the genus Homoeosoma. It is endemic to New Zealand. It found in the North and South Islands as well as the Kermadec Islands.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1901 using specimens from Waipukurau collected by Meryrick himself in March and two other specimens collected in Christchurch including one collected by R. W. Fereday.^[1] That latter specimen is the designated lectotype and is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[2]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Distribution

The species is endemic to New Zealand.^{[3] [4]} It has been collected in the wider Mackenzie basin,^[5] and the Canterbury region, as well as on the Kermadec Islands.^[6]

Biology and behaviour

The adults of this moth are on the wing during the months of October to December and also in March.^[7]

Habitat and host species

The larvae feed on Vittandinia species including Vittadinia gracilis and Vittadinia australis as well as Helichrysum luteoalbum, Hieracium lepidulum, Jacobaea vulgaris and Ozothamnus leptophyllus.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Meyrick. Edward. 1901. XVII. Descriptions of New Lepidoptera from New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. en. 49. 4. 565–580. 10.1111/J.1365-2311.1901.TB01373.X. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
2. Dugdale. John S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. en. 14. 1–264.
3. Web site: Homoeosoma anaspila Meyrick, 1901. www.nzor.org.nz. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. 2019-05-27.
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.. 463. 973607714.
5. Patrick. B. H.. 1992. Supplement to the Lepidoptera of the Mackenzie Country with recommendations on their conservation. New Zealand Entomologist. en. 15. 1. 48–58. 10.1080/00779962.1992.9722629. 0077-9962. 10.1.1.534.4540.
6. Dugdale. J. S.. 1973. A note on Kermadec Islands lepidoptera. New Zealand Entomologist. en. 5. 2. 197–203. 10.1080/00779962.1973.9723001. 0077-9962.
7. Patrick. Brian. 1994. Lepidoptera of Kaitorete Spit, Canterbury. New Zealand Entomologist. en. 17. 1. 52–63. 10.1080/00779962.1994.9721985. 0077-9962. 10.1.1.580.6402.
8. Web site: Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity report. plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. 2019-05-27.