''Glyphipterix euastera'' is a species of sedge moth in the genus ''

Glyphipterix ''Glyphipterix'' is a genus of sedge moths. It was described by Jacob Hübner in 1825. Species *'' Glyphipterix achlyoessa'' *'' Glyphipterix acinacella'' Meyrick, 1882 (from Australia) *'' Glyphipterix acronoma'' *'' Glyphipterix acrothecta'' ...

''. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the

Department of Conservation An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment, ...

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1880 using five specimens taken by him in January on the Lyttleton Hills near Christchurch. George Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 book ''The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand''. The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species occurs in the Mid Canterbury,

Central Otago Central Otago is located in the inland part of the Otago region in the South Island of New Zealand. The motto for the area is "A World of Difference". The area is dominated by mountain ranges and the upper reaches of the Clutha River and tributa ...

and

Otago Lakes Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government regi ...

areas. Other than the type locality, which is like to be either the Bridle or Rapaki Track, specimens have been collected at

Kaitorete Spit Kaitorete Spit is a long finger of land which extends along the coast of Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs west from Banks Peninsula for 25 kilometres, and separates the shallow Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora from the Pacific O ...

, the

Hinewai Reserve Hinewai Reserve is a private nature reserve on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand. Description Hinewai Reserve started off as a 109 ha block of farmland bought by the Maurice White Native Forest Trust in September 1987 and is now 1230 ha of gorse a ...

and near Sutton Lake in Otago. The species also occurs at the north side of Lake Forsyth as well as at Wakanui Beach.

Biology and behaviour

''G. euastera'' is a day-flying moth. This species is on the wing between October and January. It is a leaf mining moth.

Host plants and habitat

The host species of the larvae of ''G. euastera'' is unknown although it is likely that it is a sedge or grass. It is believed that the species is associated with ''

Poa Cita ''Poa cita'', commonly known as the silver tussock, or wī, which is also the Māori name, is a grass of the family Poaceae that is native to New Zealand. ''Poa cita'' was described and named by Elizabeth Edgar in 1986, having previously being nam ...

'' (silver tussock). The preferred habitat of this species is short tussock grassland ranging in altitude from sea level to .

Conservation status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the

New Zealand Threat Classification System The New Zealand Threat Classification System is used by the Department of Conservation to assess conservation priorities of species in New Zealand. The system was developed because the IUCN Red List, a similar conservation status system, had some ...

. This species is at risk as a result of habitat destruction or modification.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5573193 Endangered biota of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Glyphipterigidae Moths described in 1880 Moths of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand