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Batrachedra filicicola
Batrachedra filicicola, also known as the ring fern spore-eater, is a species of moth of the family Batrachedridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the North Island. The larvae of this species feed on the spores of the silver fern. Adults are on the wing in November and December. This species is attracted to light and has also been collected in the day by sweeping silver fern fonds.
From the article Batrachedra filicicola on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Description
The mature larva of this species is small and white coloured and grows up to 5 mm long. Meyrick described the male adult of this species as follows:
♂︎. 8 mm. Head and thorax bronzy-whitish. Palpi with appressed scales, whitish, with faint greyish marks at apex of second joint, and base and apex of terminal joint. Abdomen grey. Forewings narrow-lanceolate, apex narrowly produced; violet-grey, becoming darker posteriorly, produced apex blackish : cilia grey, base round apical third of wing paler and sprinkled with blackish, sometimes forming indistinct dots, at apex with a short black subbasal bar. Hindwings violet-grey; cilia grey.
Range & habitat
B. filicicola is endemic to New Zealand. It has been collected in Wellington and in the Hawkes Bay.
Wikipedia: “Distribution”
What it does
This species is on the wing in November and December. This species is attracted to light. Adults have been collected in sunshine by sweeping the fonds of its larval hosts. It is a fast runner and makes short, rapid flights.
Wikipedia: “Biology and behaviour”
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Where it lives
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
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Every page naming Batrachedra filicicola in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 409721.