Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Xylorycta molybdina



Xylorycta molybdina Turner, 1898.


ANIC, holotype

Xylorycta molybdina Turner, 1898. The Xyloryctidae of Queensland. Annals of the Queensland Museum 4: 1–32 [13]. Syntype(s) ANIC number unknown ♀, Brisbane, Qld.
Xylorycta molybdina Turner, 1898. Common, in Nielsen, Edwards, & Rangsi, 1996, Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera, 4: i-xiv, 1-529 & CD-ROM [89].
Xylorycta molybdina Turner, 1898. Beccaloni, G. W., Scoble, M. J., Robinson, G. S. & Pitkin, B. (Editors). 2003. The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex). World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/lepindex [accessed 6 May 2010].
Xylorycta molybdina Turner, 1898. Edwards, E. D. (2003), Xyloryctinae. Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/XYLORYCTINAE [accessed 19 June 2010].

Original description, Turner 1898
Xylorycta molybdina, n. sp. Female, 22-29 mm. Head, face, palpi and antennae white. Thorax pale slate-colour. Abdomen grey. Legs whitish. Forewings oblong, dilated posteriorly, costa slightly arched, apex round-pointed, hindmargin obliquely rounded; pale slate-colour; a white streak along costal edge not reaching apex; cilia pale slate-colour. Hindwings grey, paler towards base;  cilia grey.
Brisbane: several female specimens bred from larvae found in the stems of Melaleuca leucadendron (Tea-tree).

Diagnosis:
Description:
Head:
Thorax:
Xylorycta molybdina, wing venation


Abdomen:
Xylorycta molybdina, ♂ genitalia. K-0479, Bilwon, Bilwon Rd, nr Biboohra Quensland, collected by D.C.F. Rentz, B. Richardson

Xylorycta molybdina, ♂ aedeagus. K-0479, Bilwon, Bilwon Rd, nr Biboohra Quensland, collected by D.C.F. Rentz, B. Richardson


Food plants: Larva boring in stem. Larval foodplant: Melaleuca leucadendra (Myrtaceae). (Edwards, 2003).
Flight period:
Distribution: Queensland. Endemic. (Edwards, 2003).

Remarks: