Stigmella propalaea explained

Stigmella propalaea is a species of moth in the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1889 using a specimen collected at Arthur's Pass at 600m above sea-level.^[1] Meyrick named the species Nepticula propalaea. George Hudson discussed this species under that name in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.^[2] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned this species to the genus Stigmella.^[3] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. This species is only known from its holotype and the specimen is in poor condition.^[4]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Distribution

It is endemic to New Zealand.^{[5] [6]} This species is only known from its type locality of Arthur's Pass.

Biology and behaviour

The adult moths are on the wing in January. The female of this species has yet to be collected.

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 species

Notes and References

1. Meyrick . Edward . Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera . Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute . 1889 . 21 . 154–188 . 3 June 2018 . en.
2. Book: Hudson, G. V.. The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 355. 25449322. George Hudson (entomologist).
3. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 1–269. 3 June 2018. 0477025188. 22 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
4. Book: Donner, Hans. Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Wilkinson. Christopher. 1989. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 0477025382. Wellington, N.Z.. 34. 20709336.
5. Web site: Stigmella propalaea (Meyrick, 1889). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-06-03.
6. 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.. 461. 973607714.
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. 9781988514383.