Pyrgotis transfixa
Pyrgotis transfixa is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.
| Pyrgotis transfixa | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Genus: | Pyrgotis |
| Species: | P. transfixa |
| Binomial name | |
| Pyrgotis transfixa | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick from a specimen collected by George Hudson at Gollan's Valley, Wellington in December.[2][3] Meyrick named the species Catamacta transfixa.[3] George Hudson described and illustrated this species under that name in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Pyrgotis.[5] The holotype specimen of this species is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[6]
Description
Meyrick described this species as follows:
♂︎. 15 mm. Head and thorax dark purplish-fuscous mixed with dark red-brown. Palpi dark fuscous. Antennal ciliations 1. Forewings suboblong, costa anteriorly gently arched, with rather broad fold from base to beyond 1⁄3, termen sinuate, oblique ; ferruginous-brown suffusedly reticulated with glistening greyish-violet; a narrow suffused ochreous-whitish median streak from base to termen, similar streaks on veins 6 and 7, on vein 3, and space between this and tornus suffusedly irrorated ochreous-whitish : cilia ferruginous-brown mixed whitish, tips whitish, at apex a violet-grey bar. Hindwings pale grey, very faintly ; mottled ; cilia whitish.[3]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][7] This species is only known from Wellington.[6] Specimens have been obtained in the Ōrongorongo Valley.[6]
Biology and life cycle
Very little is known of the biology of this species.[6] The adult moths are on the wing in December.[4] They are attracted to light.[6]
Host species and habitat
This species prefers forest habitat.[4] The host species and larvae of this moth are at present unknown.[6]
Conservation status
This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[8]
References
- "Pyrgotis transfixa (Meyrick, 1924)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 127. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2018-05-25 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- Meyrick, E. (1924). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 55: 202–206. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 221.
- Dugdale, J. S. (1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae". Pacific Insects Monograph. 27: 55–172.
- Patrick, B.H.; Dugdale, J.S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Dept. of Conservation. p. 31. ISBN 978-047821867-1. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 465. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- 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: 8.
