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Aoraia oreobolae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

Taxonomy

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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

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The wingspan is 52–56 mm for males and 39–55 mm for females.[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

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

Biology and behaviour

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Adults are on wing in March.[2]

Host species and habitat

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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

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

References

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  1. ^ a b "Aoraia oreobolae Dugdale, 1994". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 460. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  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.