Epichorista elephantina
| Epichorista elephantina | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Genus: | Epichorista |
| Species: | E. elephantina
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| Binomial name | |
| Epichorista elephantina | |
| Synonyms | |
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Epichorista elephantina is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae.[1] This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at Arthur's Pass in the South Island. It inhabits grassy mountain slopes at altitudes of between 4000 and 5000 ft. Adults are on the wing in January.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 using a male specimen collected by Meyrick at Arthur's Pass at 4700 ft. and named Proselena elephantina.[2][3] In 1911 Meyrick confirmed that this species was placed in Epichorista.[4] Meyrick gave a more detailed description later in 1885.[5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species both in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand and in his 1939 book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[6][7] Both Hudson and Meyrick described the female of the species.[7][8] This species is regarded as being taxonomically unresolved as it likely belongs to another genus.[9] It is therefore also known as Epichorista (s.l.) elephantina.[1] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[3]
Description
[edit]Meyrick described the male of this species as follows:
Male.—27 mm. Head, palpi, and antennæ whitish-ochreous, palpi externally fuscous-tinged. Thorax pale yellowish-ochreous. Abdomen and legs whitish-ochreous, anterior and middle pair infuscated. Forewings elongate-triangular, costa slightly arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin hardly perceptibly sinuate, oblique; whitish-ochreous; a cloudy central streak from base to beyond middle more yellowish-ochreous, containing several small dots of black scales, and an ill-defined longitudinal blackish line in disc, extending from ⅓ – ⅔; some fine scattered black dots towards hindmargin: cilia pale whitish-ochreous. Hindwings and cilia whitish. Singularly distinct by its comparatively gigantic size, pale colouring, and blackish discal line.[5]
Hudson described the female of the species as follows:
The expansion of the wings of the female is 7⁄8 inch. The fore-wings are more pointed than in the male, the costa more arched, the termen more oblique (thus with smaller size showing some tendency to reduction). The hind-wings are rather dark grey.[7]
Hudson stated that this species is distinct as a result of its comparatively gigantic size, pale colouring, and blackish discal line.[6] He also stated that the moth is apparently rare and had only been located at Arthur's Pass.[7]
Distribution
[edit]E. elephantina is endemic to New Zealand.[9] It has been observed at Arthur's Pass in the South Island.[2][6]
Habitat
[edit]This species inhabits grassy mountain slopes at altitudes between 4000 and 5000 ft.[6]
Behaviour
[edit]Adults of this species are on the wing in January.[6]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 464. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b Edward Meyrick (1885). "Tortricina (supplementary). Additions to former paper. Abstract". New Zealand Journal of Science. 2: 348. Wikidata Q110920520.
- ^ a b Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 122. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ Edward Meyrick (1 July 1911). "A Revision of the Classification of New Zealand Tortricina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 83. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q111014011 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b Edward Meyrick (May 1885). "Art. XIII. — Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 17: 143. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q110920492 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 237, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 434, OCLC 9742724, Wikidata Q109420935 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Edward Meyrick (30 November 1929). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 60: 488. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q104179283.
- ^ a b "Epichorista elephantina". NZOR. 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
