Proditrix chionochloae is a species of moth in the family Glyphipterigidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Declining'" by the Department of Conservation.
| Proditrix chionochloae | |
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| Species: | P. chionochloae
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| Proditrix chionochloae | |
Taxonomy
editP. chionochloae was described by John S. Dugdale in 1987 using specimens collected by him at the Pouakai Range in Taranaki.[3][4] The holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[4]
Description
editBoth the male and female adults have wings and their wingspan is 25mm.[3] This moth is similar in appearance to Proditrix megalynta with its buff coloured body and legs but P. chionochloae have a greater number of dark spots on the top of their wings.[3] P. chionochloae can also be distinguished as its genital characteristics are different from P. megalynta and they have a longer third segment of the labial palpi.[3]
Distribution
editThis species is endemic to New Zealand.[2][5] It can only be found in Taupō and Taranaki at the Pouakai Range.[6][3]
Host plant
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The host plant of this species is Chionochloa rubra.[3]
Conservation status
editThis moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Declining".[1] One of the reasons for this classification is that the host plant of this species is being invaded by heather in Taupō localities.[6]
References
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- ^ a b 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). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 7. ISBN 9781988514383.
- ^ a b "Proditrix chionochloae Dugdale, 1987". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Dugdale, J. S. (1987). "Proditrix, a new genus for Titanomis tetragona Hudson and Plutella megalynta Meyrick and allies (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), shoot destroyers of Monocotyledones". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14: 99–112. doi:10.1080/03014223.1987.10422687.
- ^ a b Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 463. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 30. ISBN 0478218672. OCLC 154670803.
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