''Costachorema notopterum'' is a species of caddisfly belonging to the family

Hydrobiosidae The Hydrobiosidae are a family of caddisflies in the insect order Trichoptera The caddisflies, or order Trichoptera, are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, most o ...

. The species was first described by

Keith Arthur John Wise Keith Arthur John Wise (1 June 1926 – 31 March 2012), often referred to as K. A. J. Wise, was a New Zealand entomologist. Originally employed at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand), Department of Scientific and ...

in 1972, and is endemic to the Auckland Islands of New Zealand.

Taxonomy

The species was identified by Wise in 1972 using the spelling ''Costachorema notoptera'', based on a specimen collected by Wise from Enderby Island off the coast of Auckland Island in 1963.

Description

Wise's original text (the

type description A species description is a formal description of a newly discovered species, usually in the form of a scientific paper. Its purpose is to give a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differs from species that have be ...

) reads as follows: Wise measured the anterior wings of male specimens as ranging between , with female species slightly larger at . The head and body of male specimens measures between , with female ranging between . ''C. notopterum'' larvae are pale purple in colour, with darker bands and pale spots. The species is morphologically similar to ''Costachorema psaroptera''. The two species can be differentiated by the presence of white hairs on the head of ''C. psaroptera''.

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to the Auckland Islands of New Zealand.

References

{{Authority control Insects described in 1972 Endemic insects of New Zealand Fauna of the Auckland Islands Trichoptera Trichoptera of New Zealand Taxa named by Keith Arthur John Wise