Ericodesma scruposa
| Ericodesma scruposa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Genus: | Ericodesma |
| Species: | E. scruposa |
| Binomial name | |
| Ericodesma scruposa (Philpott, 1924) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Ericodesma scruposa, also known as the Gleichenia ugly nestmaker, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1924. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. This moth inhabits subalpine scrub, gumlands, peatlands and heathland where its larval host plants are present. The larval host plants are in the genus Gleichenia and include Gleichenia dicarpa. The larvae live inside silken webbing around the opening leaf tips of their host plants. Adults are on the wing from October until February. This species plays host to Chalcidoid wasps in the genus Antrocephalus.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1924 using the male holotype and originally named Tortrix scruposa. In 1927 Philpott, thinking he was describing a new species, named this moth Tortrix maculosa. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name T. scruposa in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1939 Hudson synonymised T. maculosa with T. scruposa. In 1971 John S. Dugale placed this species in the genus Ericodesma. The male holotype, collected by C. C. Fenwick at Mount Ruapehu at approximately 4,000 feet (1,200 m), is held at Te Papa.
Description
Philpott described the male adult of this species as follows:
♂. 17 mm. Head greyish-white. Palpi grey, terminal segment short and bluntly pointed. Antennae grey, ciliation 1. Thorax grey, patagia brown. Abdomen (missing). Legs grey, anterior pair infuscated. Fore-wings strongly arched at base, thence straight to apex, apex rounded, termen rounded, oblique; white; markings bronzy-brown; basal patch indicated by an irregular fascia, projecting at the middle; two curved fasciae beyond this, second broken up into spots; median fascia directed towards tornus, evenly dilated from costa, interrupted at 2⁄3; four or five interrupted irregular fasciae between median fascia and apex: cilia greyish-white darker round apex. Hindwings fuscous grey: cilia grey with a darker basal line.
The larva is colour green with a dark head and is between 5 and 8 mm long when mature.
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands.
Habitat and host
This species inhabits subalpine scrub as well as gumlands and peatlands where its host plants are present. Dugdale also stated that this species belongs to a genus of "small grey tortricids associated with heathland Pimelea". The larval host of this moth are species in the genus Gleichenia including Gleichenia dicarpa.
Behaviour
The larvae live inside silken webbing around the opening leaf tips of Gleichenia dicarpa. Adults have been observed on the wing from October to February.
Predators
This species plays host to Chalcidoid wasps in the genus Antrocephalus.
References
- 1 2 3 Gordon, Dennis Preston, ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 464. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. LCCN 2011379669. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- 1 2 Dugdale, John Stewart (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 118. doi:10.7931/j2/fnz.14. Wikidata Q45083134.
- 1 2 Philpott, Alfred (1924). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 55: 212. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q104234951. BHL page 33682028
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - ↑ Philpott, Alfred (1927). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 84. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q107580217.
- 1 2 3 Hudson, George Vernon (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 232, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286 BHL page 61899843 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ Hudson, George Vernon (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 433, OCLC 9742724, Wikidata Q109420935
- 1 2 Dugdale, John Stewart (1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae". Pacific Insects Monographs. 27: 158. ISSN 0078-7515. Wikidata Q64006453.
- 1 2 3 Crowe, Andrew (2004). Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns: Featuring the unique caterpillars which feed on them. pp. 1–32. ISBN 0-14-301924-4. Wikidata Q115211440.
- 1 2 "Ericodesma scruposa". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
- ↑ Hoare, Robert J. B. (2011). "Lepidoptera of gumland heaths — a threatened and rare ecosystem of northern New Zealand" (PDF). New Zealand Entomologist. 34 (1): 67–76. doi:10.1080/00779962.2011.9722212. Wikidata Q54578051.
- ↑ Emmerson, Alan; Hoare, Robert J. B. (2019). "Lepidoptera from Redvale, Albany, north of Auckland, New Zealand, 2004-2016: an annotated list". The Wētā. 53: 43–70. ISSN 0111-7696. Wikidata Q105342215.
- ↑ Patterson, S. (1930). "List of Lepidoptera of Whangarei". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 61: 558. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q110876310.
- ↑ Valentine, Errol W. (1967). "A list of entomophagous insects of New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Science. 10: 186. ISSN 0028-8365. Wikidata Q135643911.