Leptocroca xyrias

Leptocroca xyrias is a species of moth in the family family Oecophoridae. The taxonomy of this species is in need of revision and L. xyrias likely belongs to a separate genus. It is endemic to New Zealand. It has been classified as Data Deficient by the Department of Conservation.

Leptocroca xyrias
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Oecophoridae
Genus:
Locheutis
Species:
L. xyrias
Binomial name
Leptocroca xyrias
Meyrick, 1931

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931 from a specimen collected at "Blackmillar" (Black Miller Stream) at Kikoura by Stewart Lindsay in December.[1][2][3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1939 publication A supplement to the Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] The genus level classification of this species is regarded as unsatisfactory.[5] As such the species is also known as Leptocroca (s.l.) xyrias.[6] The holotype specimen is held at the Canterbury Museum.[2]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

♂︎. 18mm. - Head, thorax light brownish, slightly sprinkled fuscous. Palpi fuscous, tips of joints whitish. Antennal ciliations 1. Forewings elongate, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded ; brown, suffusedly irrodated fuscous on costal half, except posteriorly ; a slightly raised dark fuscous dot beneath fold at ​1⁄4 ; cilia light grey, basal half overlaid paler, outer third whitish-grey. Hindwings grey, suffusedly irrorated darker on posterior half ; cilia light grey, outer third-whitish grey.[1]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[7][6] It is only known from its collection site in Kaikoura.[3]

Biology and behaviour

This species is on the wing in December.[4]

Conservation status

This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[8]

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References
  1. Meyrick, Edward (1931). "Notes on New Zealand Lepidoptera". Records of the Canterbury Museum. 3: 367–369.
  2. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–269. ISBN 0477025188. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  3. "NZTCS Lepidoptera Spreadsheet". www.doc.govt.nz. 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  4. Hudson, G. V. (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 446. OCLC 221041540. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  5. Hoare, Robert J. B. (2005). "Hierodoris (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae), and overview of Oecophoridae" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 54: 1–102. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  6. "Leptocroca xyrias Meyrick, 1931". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  7. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 462. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  8. 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" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 5.


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