Sporophyla oenospora explained

Sporophyla oenospora is a species of moth in the family Pyralidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1897 under the name Crocydopora oenospora.^[1] The type specimen was collected at Castle Hill and is held in the Natural History Museum, London.^[2] George Vernon Hudson subsequently placed this species within the genus Sporophyla.^[3]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Distribution

S. oenospora is endemic to New Zealand.^{[4] [5]} As well as occurring at Castle Hill, this species has also been collected at Ida Valley, Alexandra and Ben Lormond.

Conservation status

This moth is now classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Meyrick. Edward. Descriptions of new Lepidoptera from Australia and New Zealand.. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 1897. 367–390. 1 May 2018.
2. Dugdale. J. S.. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 1988. 14. 143. 1 May 2018. 22 July 2019. 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.. George Hudson (entomologist)

   . The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 156. George Hudson (entomologist).

4. Web site: Sporophyla oenospora (Meyrick, 1897). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 1 May 2018.
5. 463.
6. Book: Hoare, R.J.B.. Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015. Dugdale. J.S.. Edwards. E.D.. Gibbs. G.W.. Patrick. B.H.. Hitchmough. R.A.. Rolfe. J.R.. New Zealand Department of Conservation. 2017. 9781988514383. Wellington, New Zealand. 5.