Aoraia oreobolae

Aoraia oreobolae is a species of moth in the family Hepialidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Aoraia oreobolae
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Hepialidae
Genus:
Aoraia
Species:
A. oreobolae
Binomial name
Aoraia oreobolae

Taxonomy

This species was first described by John S. Dugdale in 1994.[1] The holotype specimen was collected in the Tapanui Blue Mountains in Southland by N. Hudson on 8 March 1987.[2] The holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[2]

Description

The wingspan is 52–56 mm for males and 39–55 mm for females.[2] The forewing colour pattern is ash-white on dull dark brown.[2] It can be distinguished from other Aoraia species as the male has long antennae and the female is fully winged and the scales on those wings are thin and scattered.[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[3] They are only found in Southland.[2]

Biology and behaviour

Adults are on wing in March.[2]

Host species and habitat

The larvae feed on Oreobolus pectinatus and are associated with cushion bogs in the Blue Mountains containing this species of plant as well as Gaimardea setacea and Dracophyllum muscoides.[2]

Conservation Status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[4]

References
  1. "Aoraia oreobolae Dugdale, 1994". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  2. Dugdale, J. S. (1994). "Hepialidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 30: 1–164.
  3. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 460. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  4. 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: 7.


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