Cephalissa: Difference between revisions

| image = File:Cephalissa siria 102659250.jpg

'''''Cephalissa''''' is a [[monotypic]] [[moth]] genus in the family [[Geometridae]]. Its only species, '''''Cephalissa siria''''', the '''orange triangle moth''', is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[New Zealand]]. This species has been classified as ''nationally vulnerable'' by the [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]]. It has suffered a contraction of its range, no longer being seen in Dunedin or Invercargill. It is currently found in the [[Mt Watkin Scenic Reserve]], in eastern Otago, in the Rongahere Gorge and in the Dansey Ecological District. C. siria is known to inhabit [[Dacrycarpus dacrydioides|kahikatea]] forest amongst ''[[Carex]]'' species as well as short tussock grasslands and shrubland. The larval host plant is ''[[Fuchsia perscandens]]''. Adult moths are on the wing in October and November.

This genus and species were first described by [[Edward Meyrick]] in 1883 using specimens collected by [[Frederick Hutton (scientist)|Frederick Hutton]] in [[Dunedin]].<ref name="Meyrick1883">{{CiteQCite Q|Q110691894|pages=529-530}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite Q|Q45922947|page=459}}</ref> In 1884 Meyrick described both the genus and the species in greater detail.<ref name="Meyrick1884">{{CiteQCite Q|Q109615359|pages=93}}</ref> In 1898 [[George Hudson (entomologist)|George Vernon Hudson]] described and illustrated the species under the name ''Hydriomena siria''.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hudson|first1=George Vernon|title=New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera)|date=1898|publisher=West, Newman & co.|location=London|page=51|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7643686|access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref> Hudson also used the same [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] when he described and illustrated the species in his 1928 publication.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=http://www.bugz.org.nz/WebForms/ResultDetails.aspx?CurrentDoc=C7E94865-492F-45DA-9777-CC8E1E8B1438&back=true&NewDoc=true&searchType=1&SearchString=G.V.+Hudson|title=The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand|last=Hudson|first=G. V.|publisher=Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. |year=1928 |location=Wellington |pages=98 |author-link=George Hudson (entomologist)}}</ref> [[John S. Dugdale]] also discussed the species in 19751971 and placed this species in the genus ''Hydriomena'' was in doubt.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dugdale|first=J.S.|date=1971|title=Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae|url=http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pim/pdf/pim27-55.pdf|journal=Pacific Insects Monograph|volume=27|pages=55–172}}</ref> In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement.<ref name=":6" /> The [[Type (biology)|lectotype specimen]], collected in Dunedin, is held at the [[Natural History Museum, London]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last=Dugdale|first=J. S.|date=1988|title=Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa|url=http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/49008/FNZ14Dugdale1988150.pdf|journal=Fauna of New Zealand|volume=14|pages=1–264|via=Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd|access-date=2019-05-20|archive-date=2019-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012006/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/49008/FNZ14Dugdale1988150.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{quoteblockquote|16-18&nbsp;mm. Forewings moderate, costa sinuate, hind-margin strongly sinuate; rather dark reddish-fuscous, markings darker; a narrow curved fascia towards base, posteriorly obscurely edged with yellowish-white; a median band, moderately broad on costa, much narrower towards inner margin, both margins obscurely edged with yellowish-white, only distinct on costa, anterior margin sinuate, posterior margin sinuate, somewhat projecting in middle; an indistinct suffusion towards apex. Hindwings moderate, hindmargin irregular, obtusely projecting in middle; bright deep orange, tinged with reddish-fuscous on hindmargin; cilia dark fuscous.<ref name="Meyrick1884" />}}

This moth is classified under the [[New Zealand Threat Classification System|New Zealand Threat Classification system]] as being ''nationally vulnerable''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/science-and-technical/nztcs20entire.pdf|title=Conservation Status of New Zealand Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera), 2015 |last=Hoare |first=R.J.B .|last2=Dugdale |first2=J.S. |last3=Edwards |first3=E.D. |last4=Gibbs |first4=G.W. |last5=Patrick |first5=B.H.|last6=Hitchmough|first6=R.A.|last7=Rolfe|first7=J.R.|publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation|year=2017|isbn=9781988514383|location=Wellington, New Zealand|pages=6}}</ref> In 2017 the Department of Conservation included ''C. siria'' in a list of 150 species to be prioritised for conservation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Jamie |date=10 May 2017 |title=Kakapo, great white make DoC shortlist |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kiwi-kakapo-great-whites-make-doc-shortlist/N2NNINUREUXTWOALIJJ73Z567Y/ |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref>