Orthenches semifasciata explained

Orthenches semifasciata is a moth of the family Plutellidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1915. He used a female specimen collected by C. C. Fenwick which was taken in Queenstown in January.[1] [2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[3] In this book Hudson synonymised O. similis with O. semifasciata despite Philpott providing distinguishing features for these two species. In 1988 John S. Dugdale disagreed with this synonymising and separately listed the two species. The holotype specimen of O. semifasciata is held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[4] Along with the type locality of Queenstown this species has also been collected near Lake Hakapoua in Fiordland National Park, on Mount Titiroa in Fiordland,[5] at Rastus Burn Basin in The Remarkables at an altitude of 1640m,[6] and around Aoraki/ Mount Cook.[7]

Biology and behaviour

This species has been recorded as being on the wing in January and February.

Habitat and hosts

The larvae of O. semifasciata feed on Dracophyllum species.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Philpott. Alfred. 12 July 1915. Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47. 192–201. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. Dugdale. John S.. 1988-09-23. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. en. 14. 1–264. 2019-08-02. 2019-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
  3. Book: Hudson, G. V.. The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 329. George Hudson (entomologist).
  4. 463.
  5. Hoare. R. J. B.. Millar. I. R.. Richardson. S. J.. 2016-01-02. The insect fauna of granite sand plains: a naturally rare ecosystem in New Zealand. New Zealand Entomologist. en. 39. 1. 1–14. 10.1080/00779962.2015.1108159. 87600286. 0077-9962.
  6. Patrick. Brian H.. Lyford. Brian M.. Ward. John B.. Barratt. Barbara I.P.. December 1992. Lepidoptera and other insects of the Rastus Burn Basin, The Remarkables, Otago. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. en. 22. 4. 265–278. 10.1080/03036758.1992.10420820. 0303-6758.
  7. Philpott. Alfred. 30 August 1930. The Lepidoptera of Mount Cook District, with Descriptions of New Species. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 61. 419–439. National Library of New Zealand.
  8. Web site: Orthenches semifasciata Philpott, 1915 Herbivore report. plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2 August 2019.

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