Antiscopa epicomia

Antiscopa epicomia is a moth in the family Crambidae.[1] This species was first described by Edward Meyrick. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country including on Auckland Island, Campbell Island, and the Kermadec Islands. It inhabits native forest, preferring damp, shaded forest ravines. Adults are variable in size and colouration and are on the wing all year but most frequently from October until March.

Antiscopa epicomia
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Crambidae
Genus:
Antiscopa
Species:
A. epicomia
Binomial name
Antiscopa epicomia
(Meyrick, 1884)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Scoparia epicomia Meyrick, 1884

Taxonomy

It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1884 from specimens collected amongst native bush in January and obtained near Arthur's Pass and Dunedin and named Scoparia epicomia.[3][4] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[5] In 1964 E. Munroe placed this species in the genus Antiscopa.[6] This placement was followed by J. S. Dugdale in 1988.[7] The male lectotype, collected in Dunedin, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[7]

Description
A. epicomia observed in Wellington.

The wingspan is 18–19 mm. The forewings are pale light ochreous grey, but the basal third is reddish-ochreous brown. The hindwings are pale whitish grey with a light grey lunule, postmedian line and submarginal band.[4]

This species varies in size as well as in the colour and intensity of its markings.[5] Specimens obtained in the north tend to be brighter marked than those collected in the south of the country.[5] A. epicomia is superficially very similar to S. fimbiata but the latter can be distinguished as the male has antennal pectinations.[5]

Distribution

A. epicomia is endemic to New Zealand.[8] It can be found throughout New Zealand, including on Auckland Island, Campbell Island and on the Kermadec Islands.[9][5] It has been observed at altitudes ranging from sea-level to 1150m.[5]

Behaviour

Adults have been observed on wing all year but are more frequently seen from October to March.[10][5] This species is attracted to light as well as UV light.[11]

Habitat

This species inhabits native forest and has been observed in damp, shaded forest ravines.[5]

References
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Wikispecies has information related to Antiscopa epicomia.
  1. 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. 458. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  2. "Antiscopa epicomia (Meyrick, 1884) - Biota of NZ". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  3. Meyrick, Edward (September 1884). "Supplement to a monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina". New Zealand Journal of Science. 2: 234–237 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. Meyrick, Edward (May 1885). "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 17: 68–120 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, pp. 194–195, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. Eugene G. Munroe (1964). "Insects of Campbell Island. Lepidoptera: Pyralidae". Pacific Insects Monographs. 7: 260–271. ISSN 0078-7515. Wikidata Q115118913.
  7. John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 152. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
  8. "Antiscopa epicomia (Meyrick, 1884)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  9. Brian Patrick (March 1994). "Antipodes Island Lepidoptera". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 24 (1): 115. doi:10.1080/03014223.1994.9517457. ISSN 0303-6758. Wikidata Q54583729.
  10. "Antiscopa epicomia". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  11. Littlejohn, Jacob (2023-01-08). "Antiscopa epicomia". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
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