Bityla sericea
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bityla sericea is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
| Bityla sericea | |
|---|---|
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Bityla |
| Species: | B. sericea |
| Binomial name | |
| Bityla sericea | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Taxonomy
This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 using a specimen obtained from John Enys and collected in the South Island.[1][2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species both in his 1898 book, New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) and his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[3][4] In 1905 Hudson, thinking he was describing a new species, also gave the species the name Orthosia pallida.[5] George Francis Hampson, also mistakenly believing this was a separate species placed O. pallida in the genus Bityla.[6] Hudson discussed B. pallida in his 1928 publication.[4] John S. Dugdale synonymised B. pallida with B. sericea in 1988.[1] The holotype specimen of B. sericea is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[1]
Description
Butler described the species as follows:
Primaries shining greyish brown, crossed by two widely separated and slightly diverging dusky lines, the inner one in the shape of a }, the outer one composed of small lunules with whitish exterior margins; outer margin undulated, fringe silky whitish; secondaries pale brown, fringe sandy whitish; thorax greyish brown,' collar slightly darker; abdomen ? : primaries below pale grey, costa and fringe whitish; secondaries whitish, with a submarginal indistinct grey band, and the outer border, of the same tint, fringe whitish; pectus sandy yellowish, dusky in front; legs sandy yellowish, banded with black. Expanse of wings 1 inch 6 lines.[2]
Although similar in appearance to Bityla defigurata, B. sericea can be distinguished from it as B. sericea has a pale fringe on its forewing.[7]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[8][9] The species has been found in Wellington, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, Central Otago and at the Otago Lakes areas.[10] Hudson mentions the species was also collected in Thames[4] and in Napier.[5]
Behaviour and life cycle
Host species and habitat
The host of the larvae of B. sericea is unknown but they probably feed on Muehlenbeckia species.[10]
Conservation status
This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[11]
