Atomotricha exsomnis

Atomotricha exsomnis
File:Atomotricha exsomnis 173268284.jpg
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Oecophoridae
Genus:	Atomotricha
Species:	A. exsomnis
Binomial name
Atomotricha exsomnis Meyrick, 1913

Atomotricha exsomnis is a moth in the family Oecophoridae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1913. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in both the North and South Islands. Adults are on the wing from November until January.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1913 using a male specimen collected at Ohakune by George Hudson. Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Alfred Philpott studied A. exsomnis in 1927 examining the genitalia of this species. The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

File:Fig 41 MA I437624 TePapa Plate-XXV-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg

Illustration of male by George Hudson.

File:Atomotricha exsomnis Meyrick, 1913 Holotype.jpg

Male holotype of Atomotricha exsomnis.

Edward Meyrick described this species as follows:

♂. 24 mm. Head and thorax whitish-ochreous, collar dark fuscous. Palpi whitish-ochreous, second joint sprinkled and towards base suffused with fuscous. Abdomen whitish-ochreous, segments yellowish-ochreous towards the base. Forewings elongate, somewhat dilated posteriorly, costa moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded; whitish-ochreous, somewhat sprinkled with fuscous and dark fuscous; a suffused dark-fuscous streak running from base of costa to plical stigma; stigmata large, dark fuscous, pale-centred, especially second discal, plical obliquely beyond first discal; a spot of dark-fuscous suffusion on costa above second discal stigma, and a larger spot on costa at ¾, whence an indistinct angulated dark-fuscous line runs to dorsum before tornus: cilia whitish-ochreous, on upper half of termen spotted with fuscous at base. Hindwings whitish-ochreous; a grey discal dot: cilia whitish-ochreous.

This species is similar in appearance to A. isogama but can be distinguished as A. exsomnis has a strongly W-shaped postmedian line and a bolder blotch on the costa at the end of the postmedian line. It has been hypothesised that the adult female of the species may not be brachypterous.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. As well as being observed at its type locality of Ohakune, it has been recorded at Mount Ruapehu, Tongariro, Saint Arnaud. It is regarded as being very local.

Habitat

This species inhabits native forest.

Behaviour

The adult moths are on the wing from November until January.