Thambotricha Explained

Thambotricha is a monotypic genus of moths in the family Epermeniidae. Its sole known species, Thambotricha vates, is also known by the vernacular name wonder-haired prophet. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy and etymology

T. vates was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1922 from a specimen collected in Wellington in March by Charles Edwin Clarke.^[1] George Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.^[2] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[3] The vernacular name of this species, "wonder-haired prophet", comes from a translation of its Latin name. The name is as a result of the male having very long hairs on its antenna. The male holotype specimen of T. vates is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Meyrick described the genus as follows:

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^{[4] [5]} Along with its type locality of Gollan's Valley in Wellington, this moth has also been collected at the Waipoua State Forest in Northland,^[6] in the Hakarimata Range near Ngāruawāhia in the Waikato, in Taranaki,^[7] at Katikati in the Bay of Plenty, and near Aorere River in Nelson.

Biology and life cycle

Little is known of the biology of this species.^[8] T. vates are on the wing in March. This species appears not to attracted to light and has been caught by sweeping during daytime. Males of the species have been however been collected at night with the use of a pressure lamp.

Host species and habitat

The host species of the larvae of this moth is unknown. This species prefers native forest habitat.^[9]

Conservation status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.^[10]

Notes and References

1. Meyrick. Edward. A new genus and species of Microlepidoptera from New Zealand.. The Entomologist. 1922. 55. 270–271. 26 May 2018. en. 0013-8878.
2. Book: Hudson, G. V.. The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 325. George Hudson (entomologist).
3. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa.. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 1–262. 2018-05-26. 2019-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
4. Web site: Thambotricha vates Meyrick, 1922. www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-04-02.
5. 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.. 458. 973607714.
6. Dugdale. J. S.. 2 February 2012. Thambotricha vates Meyrick, reassigned to Epermeniidae (Lepidoptera: Epermenioidea). New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14. 3. 375–383. 10.1080/03014223.1987.10423008. free.
7. News: Rare moth causes a flutter in Katikati. Bath. Brooke. 2015-04-21. NZ Herald. 2018-04-02. en-NZ. 1170-0777.
8. Book: Patrick, Brian. Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera. Dugdale. John S.. 2000. Department of Conservation, New Zealand. 0478218672. Wellington, N.Z.. 32. 154670803. 2018-05-26. 2017-05-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20170501123316/http://nationalparks.co.nz/Documents/science-and-technical/sfc136.pdf. dead.
9. News: Elusive moth found in Bay of Plenty. 22 April 2015. Stuff. 3 April 2018.
10. 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. 9.