''Erechthias exospila'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

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

Tineidae Tineidae is a family of moths in the order Lepidoptera described by Pierre André Latreille in 1810. Collectively, they are known as fungus moths or tineid moths. The family contains considerably more than 3,000 species in more than 300 genera. ...

. 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 1901. It 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 ...

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 can be found in the North Island as well as the Poor Knights and D'Urville Islands. This species inhabits native forest. Larvae of species in the genus ''Erechthias'' feed on dead plant debris or the tough leaves of plants such as palms. ''E. exospila'' frequents the dead leaves of ''

Astelia ''Astelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the recently named family Asteliaceae. They are rhizomatous tufted perennial plant, perennials native to various islands in the Pacific, Indian, and South Atlantic Oceans, as well as to Australia an ...

''. Adults have been observed in November and February. Specimens of this species have been collected via malaise trap and beating shrubs.

Taxonomy

This was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1901 using one specimen he collected at

Whangārei Whangārei () is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the largest settlement of the Northland Region. It is part of the Whangarei District, created in 1989 from the former Whangarei City, Whangarei County and Hikurangi Town councils to admi ...

Heads in December and originally named ''Ereunetis exospila''. In 1914 Meyrick assigned this species to the genus ''Erechthias''. Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book ''The butterflies and moths of New Zealand''. In 1988

John S. Dugdale John Stewart Dugdale (5 April 1934 – 4 September 2020) was a New Zealand entomologist known for his contributions to knowledge about New Zealand lepidoptera, as well as tachinid flies and cicadas The cicadas () are a superfamily, the ...

confirmed the placement of this species in the genus ''Erechthias''. 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 ...

specimen 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

Meyrick described this species as follows: The coloration of this moth resembles that of other species associated with dead leaves of ''

'' (for example ''

Amphixystis hapsimacha ''Amphixystis hapsimacha'' is a species of moth in the family Tineidae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1901. It is endemic to New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two ...

'' and ''

Prothinodes grammocosma ''Prothinodes'' is a genus of moths belonging to the family Tineidae Tineidae is a family of moths in the order Lepidoptera described by Pierre André Latreille in 1810. Collectively, they are known as fungus moths or tineid moths. The family ...

''), and is highly protective.

Distribution

It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been observed in the North Island and at the

Poor Knights Islands The Poor Knights Islands (Māori: ''Tawhiti Rahi)'' are a group of islands off the east coast of the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. They lie to the northeast of Whangārei, and offshore halfway between Bream Head ...

as well as Rangitoto ki te Tonga / D'Urville Island.

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits native forest. Larvae of species in the genus ''Erechthias'' feed on dead plant debris or the tough leaves of plants such as palms. ''E. exospila'' frequents the dead leaves of ''

''.

Behaviour

Adults of this species has been observed in November to February. Adults have been collected via malaise trap and beating shrubs.

References

External links

Image of type specimen of ''Erechthias exospila''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q13483290 Moths described in 1901 Erechthiinae Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand