Mnesarchella stellae is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is named in honour of Gibbs' mother Florence Stella Gibbs. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can only be found in the Nelson area for recording specimen localities as described by T. K. Crosby. This species is the largest in the Mnesarchella genus but otherwise is similar in appearance to other species contained in that genus. This species prefers very damp, dark native beech forest with plentiful moss and lives at altitudes of between 420 and 750 m. Adults of this species are on the wing in December and January.
| Mnesarchella stellae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Mnesarchaeidae |
| Genus: | Mnesarchella |
| Species: | M. stellae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mnesarchella stellae | |
Taxonomy
edit
This species was first described by George William Gibbs in 2019 and is named in honour of his mother and daughter of George Vernon Hudson, Florence Stella Gibbs.[1] The male holotype specimen was collected by Gibbs at Surveyors Creek on Karamea Bluff in Nelson and is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[1]
Description
editThis species is the largest in this genus with the forewing of the male measuring between 4.3 and 5.5 mm and the forewing of the female measuring 4.7 mm. There are genitalia differences but in other respects this species is similar in appearance to its close relatives within the genus Mnesarchella. As at 2019, the larvae of this species have yet to be collected.
Distribution
editThis species is endemic to New Zealand.[2] It can only be found in the Nelson area as described by T. K. Crosby et al. for recording specimen localities.[1][3]
Habitat
editThis species prefers very damp, dark native beech forest with plentiful moss and lives at altitudes of between 420 and 750 m.[1]
Behaviour
editAdults of this species are on the wing in December and January.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f George W. Gibbs; Niels Peder Kristensen (28 May 2019). Mnesarchaeidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea) (PDF) (in English and Māori). Vol. 78. Lincoln: Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. pp. 1–105. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.78. ISBN 978-0-947525-60-6. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q104802925. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2021.
{{cite book}}:|journal=ignored (help) - ^ "Mnesarchella stellae Gibbs, 2019". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ T. K. Crosby; J. S. Dugdale; J. C. Watt (January 1998). "Area codes for recording specimen localities in the New Zealand subregion". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 25 (2): 175–183. doi:10.1080/03014223.1998.9518148. ISSN 0301-4223. Wikidata Q54576387.