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Mnesarchella ngahuru

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Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Mnesarchella ngahuru
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Mnesarchaeidae
Genus: Mnesarchella
Species: M. ngahuru
Binomial name
Mnesarchella ngahuru
Gibbs, 2019

Mnesarchella ngahuru is a species of primitive moth in the family Mnesarchaeidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the Taupō, Gisborne and Wellington regions.

Taxonomy

Te Urewera, the type locality of M. ngahuru

This species was first described by George William Gibbs in 2019. The male holotype specimen was collected by Gibbs on the Manuoha track in Te Urewera and is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.

Description

This species is very similar in appearance to its close relatives such as M. acuta, M. falcata and M. hamadelpha but can be distinguished by the shape of the male genitalia. Gibbs describes the colour of the male forewings as follows:

Forewing 3.6–4.1 mm; dark-brown costal streak very broad with broad apex which is continuous with oblique anal fascia, basal area ochreous-white, grading to pale orange-brown toward dorsum; median costal patch ochreous-white, clearly defined; a patch of intense white scales in centre of median area; subapical area orange-brown, often suffused with ochreous scales.

Although occurring in the same range as M. loxoscia and M. falcata, adults of M. ngahuru are normally on the wing at a later time.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the Taupō, Gisborne and Wellington regions.

Habitat

This species lives in damp but well-lit forests at altitudes of between 350 and 1100 m.

Behaviour

The adults of this species appear later in the season in comparison to its close relatives being on the wing from December to March.

References

  1. ^ Gibbs, George W.; Kristensen, Niels P. (28 May 2019). "Mnesarchaeidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand (in English and Māori). 78. Lincoln: Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research: 1–105. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.78. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q104802925. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2021.
  2. "Mnesarchella ngahuru Gibbs, 2019". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
Taxon identifiers
Mnesarchella ngahuru
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