Dichromodes Cynica
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''Dichromodes cynica'' (also known as the rock face moth) is a
moth Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not Butterfly, butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is Paraphyly, paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (s ...
of the family
Geometridae The geometer moths are moth Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not Butterfly, butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is Paraphyly, paraphyleti ...
. It was first described by
Edward Meyrick Edward Meyrick (25 November 1854 – 31 March 1938) was an English schoolmaster and amateur entomologist. He was an expert on microlepidoptera and some consider him one of the founders of modern microlepidoptera systematics. Life and work Ed ...
in 1911. ''D. cynica'' is
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
and is found only around
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
and
Banks Peninsula Banks Peninsula () is a rocky peninsula on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand that was formed by two now-extinct volcanoes. It has an area of approximately . It includes two large deep-water harbours — Lyttelton Harbour a ...
r. The larvae of ''D. cynica'' are cryptic in appearance and feed on lichens growing on dry sunny rock faces. Adults are on the wing from September to February. ''D. cynica'' are active during the day and are rapid fliers.


Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 using a specimen collected by
George Hudson George Hudson (probably 10 March 1800 – 14 December 1871) was an English railway financier and politician who, because he controlled a significant part of the Railway Mania, railway network in the 1840s, became known as "The Railway King"—a ...
at Lyttelton in November. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book ''The butterflies and moths of New Zealand''. The male
holotype A holotype (Latin: ''holotypus'') is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism used when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described. It is either the single such physical example (or illustration) or one of s ...
is held at the
Natural History Museum, London The Natural History Museum in London is a museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum (Lo ...
.


Description

The larvae of this species are cryptic, camouflaging themselves against their host species of lichens. Hudson described the larvae as follows: Meyrick described this species as follows: This species is similar in appearance to ''D. sphaeriata'' but is smaller.


Distribution

It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found only around
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
and the
Banks Peninsula Banks Peninsula () is a rocky peninsula on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand that was formed by two now-extinct volcanoes. It has an area of approximately . It includes two large deep-water harbours — Lyttelton Harbour a ...
r. As well as the type locality, this species has also been observed at Mount Grey.


Behaviour

The larvae of ''D. cynica'' feed on lichens growing on dry sunny rock faces. The adults of this species are on the wing from September to February. This species is active during the day and flies rapidly.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13536201 Oenochrominae Moths described in 1911 Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand