Hierodoris Atychioides

''Hierodoris atychioides'' (also known as the gregarious tineid) is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. The female holotype specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London. This species is endemic to New Zealand, and can be found in the North, South and Stewart Islands. The larvae form webs of silk attached to frass and leaves on their hosts in which they shelter, often in the company of other larvae in their species. Their feeding habits have not been observed in detail but Hoare hypothesises the larvae may feed on dead or dying leaves. The larvae feed on a wide range of trees and shrubs, including '' Dacrydium cupressinum'', '' Prumnopitys taxifolia'', '' Dacrycarpus dacrydioides'', '' Libocedrus bidwillii'', ''Cupressus macrocarpa'', '' Leptospermum scoparium'', '' Kunzea ericoides'', ''Ozothamnus leptophyllus'', '' Abies'', ''Picea'', '' Pinus'' and '' Thuja'' species. Although they are regarded as a pest of exotic forests in New Zealand, the economic damage the larvae cause is minimal and they tend to be controlled only by their natural enemies. Larval enemies include the parasitic flies ''Trigonospila brevifacies'' and '' Pales funesta'' as well as parasitic wasps including ''Xanthopimpla rhopaloceros.'' The adult moths are day flying and are most common during the months of December and January. This species is variable in appearance as larvae, pupa and as adults, and it has been hypothesised that it is in the process of speciation.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 and named ''Tachyptilia atychioides''. Butler used specimens sourced from James Hector (who collected in Dunedin) and John Davies Enys (who collected in Christchurch) but did not state a type locality. In 1888 Edward Meyrick placed this species within the ''Heliostibes'' genus. In 1939 George Hudson synonymised both ''Heliostibes gregalis'' and ''Heliostibes barbarica'' with ''H. atychoioides''. In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus ''Hierodoris''. This placement was confirmed by Robert Hoare in 2005. The female holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

M. K. Kay described the larvae of this species as follows:

Butler described the adults of the species as follows:

The wingspan of the adults of this species is between 14–20 mm. The hindwings are dark brown.

It can be distinguished from ''H. callispora'' as it does not have the metallic head and thorax of that species. It is also different in appearance from ''H. gerontion'' as ''H. atychoioides'' has a hindwing with less white on it and a smooth labial palp. Finally it is a smaller moth that the dark forms of '' H. illita'' and does not have the pale streaks on that species' hind wings''.'' ''H. atychoioides'' is variable in appearance as a larva, pupa and as an adult. Depending on the larval host, the adults of this species can show distinct differences in wing pattern as well as in their size. For example if the larvae have been reared on rimu the adults can have a small reddish-marked appearance where as if reared on '' Libocedrus bidwillii'' larvae can produce a larger reddish adult moth. As a result of this, it has been hypothesised that this species may be in the process of speciation. However it has also been argued that the currently differences in appearance merge gradually from one to another in a continuous series and cannot be morphologically separated and therefore do not yet merit taxonomic separation.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. However this species is regarded as being uncommon in Christchurch.

Behaviour

The larvae form webs of silk attached to frass and the leaves of their hosts in which they shelter, often in the company of other larvae in their species. Their feeding habits have not been observed in detail but Hoare hypothesises the larvae may feed on dead or dying leaves. The larvae will attempt to withdraw further into its shelter or alternatively will fall to the ground if disturbed. Once the larva is mature it pupates within its silken nest and then takes three weeks to metamorphosise. This species appears to have an annual life cycle. The adult moth is day flying and is most common during the months of December and January.

Hosts

The larvae feed on a wide range of trees and shrubs, including '' Dacrydium cupressinum, Prumnopitys taxifolia, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides'', '' Libocedrus bidwillii'', ''Cupressus macrocarpa'', '' Leptospermum scoparium'', '' Kunzea ericoides'', ''Ozothamnus leptophyllus'', '' Abies'', ''Picea'', '' Pinus'' and '' Thuja'' species.

Enemies

The larvae of this species are susceptible to both fungal disease and parasitic insects. Both ''Trigonospila brevifacies'' and '' Pales funesta'', two species of fly, are known to parasitize ''H. atychioides.'' ''H. atychioides'' are also parasitized by the wasp ''Xanthopimpla rhopaloceros'', as well as wasp species in the ''Campoplex'', ''Aucklandella'' and ''Goniozus'' genera. It has been hypothesised that these natural parasites as well as wasps introduced as biocontrol agents may have caused the scarcity of this moth in Christchurch.

Interactions with humans

Although this species is regarded as a pest of exotic forests in New Zealand, because the damage it does is limited, it is normally controlled by its natural enemies rather than by chemicals. However this species can cause ornamental plants to be defoliated and as a result gardeners may resort to spraying insecticide to kill the feeding larvae.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15640197

Moths described in 1877
Moths of New Zealand
Xyloryctinae
Endemic fauna of New Zealand
Taxa named by Arthur Gardiner Butler
Endemic moths of New Zealand