Uzucha Walker, 1864
Uzucha Walker, 1864, Tineites. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Vol. 29. 562–835 pp. [826].Type species: Uzucha humeralis Walker, 1864 by monotypy.
Uzucha Walk. Meyrick, 1890, Descriptions of Australian Lepidoptera. Part I. Xyloryctidae. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 13: 23–81 [25].
Uzucha. Meyrick, 1897, Descriptions of new Lepidoptera from Australia and New Zealand. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1897: 367–390 [382].
Uzucha Walk. Turner, 1898. The Xyloryctidae of Queensland. Ann. Qd Mus. 4: 1–32 [28].
Uzucha. Tillyard, R.J., Insects of Australia and New Zealand. Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1926. 1-560. [425].
Uzucha. Philpott, 1927. The Maxillae in the Lepidoptera. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Vol. 57, 721-745 [735].
Uzucha Walker, 1864 senior subjective synonym of Gonioma Turner 1897 [Cryptophasidae]. Fletcher, T. B., 1929, A list of generic names used for Microlepidoptera. Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture of India, 11: 1-244 [234].
Uzucha Walker, 1864. Common, in Nielsen, Edwards, & Rangsi, 1996, Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera, 4: i-xiv, 1-529 & CD-ROM [88].
Uzucha Walker, 1864. 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 1 May 2010]
Uzucha Walker, 1864. 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 17 June 2010].
Original decription, Walker 1864
Uzucha
Mas. Corpus crassum. Proboscis nulla. Palpi graciles, pubescentes, oblique ascendentes, capitis latitudine multi breviores; articulus 3us setiformis, 2o valde brevior. Antennae graciles, glabrae; Abdomen alas posticas paullo superans. Pedes laeves, robusti. Alae anticae amplae, apice rectangulatae, costa basi gibbosa, margine exteriore recto vix obliquo.
Allied to Cryptothelia. Male.— Body very stout. Proboscis obsolete. Palpi slender, pubescent, obliquely ascending, much shorter than the breadth of the head; third joint setiform, much shorter than the second. Antennae smooth, slender, much shorter than the fore wings. Abdomen extending a little beyond the hind wings; tip with two elongate lateral valves. Legs smooth, stout; spurs long. Wings long and broad. Fore wings rectangular at the tips; basal part of the costa extremely prominent, extending much in front of the head; exterior part of the costa almost straight; exterior border straight and hardly oblique, except towards the interior angle; a longitudinal furrow behind the fourth inferior vein. which is very remote from the third. Hind wings with a long penicillate tuft of hairs at the base.
Subsequent description, Meyrick 1890
Uzucha Walk.
Head with appressed scales; ocelli absent; tongue developed. Antennae moderate, in male filiform, simple, basal joint very elongate, subclavate, without pecten. Labial palpi short, curved, ascending, second joint with loosely appressed scales, terminal joint short, smooth, acute. Maxillary palpi very short, appressed to tongue. Thorax smooth. Abdomen stout. Posterior tibiae smooth-scaled. (Meyrick, 1890). Forewings with vein 1 very long-furcate towards base, 2 from 3/5, 3 from angle, 7 and 8 short-stalked, 7 to apex, 11 from middle. Hindwings over 1, subovate; 1b shortly furcate at base, with basal tuft of hairs, 3 and 4 from a point or shortstalked, 5 parallel to 4, 6 and 7 short-stalked, 8 connected with upper margin of cell at a point before middle.
A very distinct and curious genus; the peculiarly arched costa of the imago gives it a very Tortriciform appearance.
Subsequent description, Turner 1898
Uzucha Walk.
Labial palpi short or moderate. Posterior tibiae in male smooth-scaled, in female rough-scaled above, smooth beneath. Forewings with vein 7 to apex or costa. Hindwings with 6 and 7 from a point or short-stalked.
It seems better for the present to widen the definition of this genus than to establish a new genus for Lower's species [Gonioma hypoxantha].
Other references
[Eschatura] This genus belongs to the group formerly maintained as a distinct family under the name Xyloryctidae, and is intermediate between Uzucha and Pilostibes. (Meyrick, 1897).
[Gonioma] A peculiar genus, interesting as forming to some extent a connecting link between Lichenaula and Uzucha. (Turner, 1898).
The finest species belong to Cryptophasa, Xylorycta, Maroga and Uzucha. The depredations of the large genus Cryptophasa are very noticeable in the bush; ... (Tillyard, 1926).
Good examples, of progressive reduction in the maxillary palpi are exhibited in this large family. Lichenaula has a five-segmented palp; the genera Telecrates, Odites, Procometis, Agriophora [sic], Chalarotona, Scieropepla, Eschatura, Uzucha, and Catoryctis have each lost a segment; Xylorycta and Maroga have only three remaining; Cryptophaga rubescens has two, with a third represented by a minute papilla, while in C. nubila this papilla has been lost. (Philpott, 1927).
Description:
Head:
Thorax:
Abdomen:
Immature stages:
Distribution: New South Wales, Queensland. Endemic. (Edwards, 2003).
Remarks:
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Uzucha borealis Turner, 1898
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| Uzucha borealis, ♀. G. Cocks, Townsville |
Uzucha borealis Turner, 1898. The Xyloryctidae of Queensland. Annals of the Queensland Museum 4: 1–32 [28]. Holotype ANIC ♂, Charters Towers, Qld.
Uzucha borealis Turn. Rowland-Brown, H., The Entomologist, 1901, v. 34 [209].
Uzucha borealis Turn. Common, 1990, Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press. 227-230 [228].
Uzucha borealis Turner, 1898. Common, in Nielsen, Edwards, & Rangsi, 1996, Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monogr. Aust. Lepid 4: i-xiv, 1-529 & CD-ROM [87].
Uzucha borealis 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 1 May 2010]
Uzucha borealis 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
Uzucha borealis, n. sp. Male, 47 mm. Palpi very short. Forewings with vein 7 to apex. Hindwings with 6 and 7 stalked. Head, face, and palpi deep orange-ochreous. Antennal pale ochreous-brown, annulated with darker brown. Thorax pale ochreous-brown. Abdomen dark-fuscous, base of segments and two whole apical segments ochreous-orange. Legs ochreous-orange; anterior pair infuscated. Forewings oblong, slightly narrowed posteriorly, costa very strongly and abruptly arched near base, thence nearly straight, apex obtuse, hindmargin nearly straight, hardly oblique; pale ochreous. brown; a dark reddish-fuscous spot on base of costa; a conspicuous reddish-fuscous spot in disc at 2/3; cilia pale ochreous-brown. Hind wings pale ochreous; basal third fuscous; division suffused; cilia pale ochreous, at anal angle fuscous.
Differs from Uzucha humeralis only in the colouration. Further discoveries may show that this is only a geographical variety of this species, which, however, is quite constant in its colouring in the neighbourhood of Brisbane. Charters Towers, one specimen from Mr Dodd.
Other references
SOCIETIES
Entomological Society of London.—June 5th, 1901.
Dr. A. Jefferis Turner exhibited specimens of Australian wood-boring Lepidoptera belonging to four different families. They included— Pyralidae : Doddiana xylorictis, Turn. Gelechidae: Cryptophasa flavolineata and C. hemipsila, Turn., Maroga mythica, Meyr., M. setiotricha, Meyr., Uzucha borealis, Turn. Cossidae : Dudgeona actinias, Turn., Xyleutes pulchra, Roths., X. macleayei, X. nephocosma. Turn. Hepialidae: Charagia mirabilis. Roths., C. ramsayi, Scott, and C. cyanochlora, Lower.— H. Rowland-Brown, Hon. Sec.
A form with pale hind wings, known from Townsville and Charters Towers, was described as a separate species U. borealis. Both have been reared from larvae feeding on E. platyphylla near Townsville. (Common, 1990).
Diagnosis:
Description:
Head:
Thorax:
Abdomen:
Food plants: Larva in silken gallery covered by a conspicuous brown web in bark.
Larval foodplant: Eucalyptus platyphylla (Myrtaceae). (Edwards, 2003).
Flight period:
Distribution: Queensland. Endemic. (Edwards, 2003).
Remarks:
Uzucha humeralis Walker, 1864.
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| Uzucha humeralis,♀ - Qld, Brisbane (ANIC) [AMO]. |
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| Uzucha humeralis,♀ - NT, Cooper Creek, 19 km EbyS of Mt Borradaile Lat. 12' 06'' S Long. 133' 04'' E, 9. Nov. 1972, E.D. Edwards M.S. Upton leg. (ANIC). [AMO]. |
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| Uzucha humeralis,♂ – Brisbane (ANIC). Figured in Moths of Australia [AMO]. |
Uzucha humeralis Walker, 1864. Tineites. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Vol. 29. 562–835 pp. [826]. Syntype(s) BMNH 2♂, Moreton Bay, Qld.
Uzucha humeralis, Walk. Meyrick, 1890: Descriptions of Australian Lepidoptera. Part I. Xyloryctidae. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 13: 23–81 [26].
Uzucha humeralis. Illidge, 1895: Xylorycts, or timber moths. Queensland Natural History Society Transactions, 1, 29-34 [32].
Uzucha humeralis. Walsingham, 1898: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London, vii-xii [xi].
Uzucha humeralis, Walk. Turner, 1898. The Xyloryctidae of Queensland. Annals of the Queensland Museum 4: 1–32 [28].
Uzucha humeralis. Tillyard, 1926, Insects of Australia and New Zealand. Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1-560. [425].
Uzucha humeralis, Walk. Philpott, 1927: The Maxillae in the Lepidoptera. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Vol. 57, 721-745 [735].
Uzucha humeralis Walker, 1864 [Cryptophasidae]. Fletcher, T. B., 1929, A list of generic names used for Microlepidoptera. Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture of India, 11: 1-244 [234].
Uzucha humeralis, Walk. Common, Australian Moths, Jacaranda Press, 1963, 1-128 (50-54) [51-52, fig. 104].
Uzucha humeralis, Walk. Common, 1970: Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies), The Insects of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 765-866 [824].
Uzucha humeralis, Walk. Common, 1990, Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press. 227-230 [228].
Uzucha humeralis Walker, 1864. Common, in Nielsen, Edwards, & Rangsi, 1996, Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera, 4: i-xiv, 1-529 & CD-ROM [88].
Uzucha humeralis Walker, 1864. 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 1 May 2010].
Uzucha humeralis Walker, 1864. 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, Walker 1864
Uzucha humeralis.
Mas. Sordide rufescens, subtus ochracea; abdomen fasciis quatuor apiceque ochraceis; tibiae posticae nigricantes; alae anticae macula basali fusca; posticae nigricantes, spatio exteriore flavo.
Male. Dull reddish, ochraceous beneath. Tegulae of the thorax and fore wings tinged with slate colour. Abdomen with four ochraceous bands; tip ochraceous. Hind tibiae blackish. Fore wings with a dark brown spot on the base of the costa. Hind wings blackish; this hue diffuse or consisting of speckles towards the exterior part, which is yellow. Length of the body 10 lines [21.2mm]; of the wings 24 lines [50.8mm].
a, b. Moreton Bay. From Mr. Diggles' collection.
Subsequent description, Meyrick 1890
Uz. humeralis, Walk.
(Uzucha humeralis, Walk., 826.)
Male and female 42·61 mm. Head dull orange-ochreous. Palpi dark fuscous, apex of second joint pale ochreous. Antennae and thorax fuscous. Abdomen dark fuscous, base of segments and two whole apical segments ochreous-orange. Legs rather dark fuscous, apex of tarsal joints obscurely whitish-ochreous. Forewings oblong, slightly narrowed posteriorly, costa very strongly and abruptly arched near base, thence slightly arched or almost straight, apex obtuse, hindmargin nearly straight, hardly oblique, rounded beneath; fuscous, slightly purplish-tinged, sometimes reddish-tinged in disc; extreme costal edge pale reddish-ochreous; a semicircular dark reddish-fuscous spot on base of costa, margined posteriorly with pale reddish-ochreous; base of inner margin pale ochreous; a very small deep ferruginous or reddish-fuscous spot in disc at 2/3; cilia fuscous, terminal half pale reddish-ochreous. Hindwings rather dark fuscous, apical 2/5 pale ochreous-yellowish, division suffused; cilia pale ochreous-yellowish, becoming dark fuscous towards anal angle and on inner margin.
Duaringa and Brisbane, Queensland, in November; rather common in the larval state, but apparently less frequent as imago. Larva 16-legged, stout, cylindrical, head large; dull slaty-grey, spots small, blackish; head blackish; it feeds on the bark of Eucalyptus, gnawing it externally beneath a broad shelter of silk and refuse. Pupa in a chamber excavated in solid bark. I found the larva nearly full grown in September.
Other references
Protective resemblance has evidently much to do with the explanation of the different colours and patterns displayed by many of the moths. For example the close similarity in colour between Uzucha humeralis and the bark of the spotted gum and between Cryptophaga nubila and that of the teatree is very obvious, and becomes significant when we remember that the trees mentioned are the food plants of these moths. At the same time other Xyloryctidae, e.g., C. epadelpha, seem to be coloured In a manner specially suitable for rendering them conspicuous. (Illidge, 1892).
"The larva of Uzucha humeralis feeds in a different way: [from the burrowing Cryptophasa] it spins a broad and long web upon the surface of the tree, feeding principally upon the thin outer bark, though it occasionally gnaws down to the wood. The web often extends for a considerable distance, 12 by 1 ½ inches being a common size. On large trees the web is generally very broad, and it is then not so long, being sometimes wider than a man's hand; whilst on thin branches the web may be 2 feet long and only an inch wide. The larva not only eats the bark under the protective web, but gnaws or eats away the outlying bark for an inch or more on either side. This gnawed bark if undevoured is added to the increasing mantle, as is also the frass. The larva of Uzucha does not burrow into the wood like Cryptophaga; as thfxe Eucalyptus and Angophora shed their outer bark about the time the insect pupates, special precautions are taken that the pupa shall not fall to the ground with the shed bark. When about to pupate the larva forms a hole at the lower end of the web, perforating the bark about to be shed, and spins a stout cocoon with a tube at its upper extremity. The web-covering gradually falls away and the outer bark is shed, leaving the cocoon attached to what has now become the outer bark of the tree, where it may be easily found and detached with a knife. It is believed that the gnawed space (often extending to several inches on one side) is really occasioned by the larva moving its mantle laterally when it has finished the bark in one particular spot; this is confirmed by the fact that the bare gnawed area is not found in front of the web. (Dodd, in Walsingham, 1898).
Uzucha humeralis, Walk. Walker, 826; Meyrick, 26.
Male and female, 42-53 mm. (one specimen, probably starved, 35 mm.). Palpi very short. Forewings with vein 7 to apex. Hind 6 and 7 stalked. Brisbane: larvae found very commonly under a web on the bark of Angophora and smooth-barked Eucalyptus. Also recorded from Duaringa. (Turner, 1898).
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| Uzucha humeralis, Pl 30, fig 2, Tillyard 1926. |
The finest species belong to Cryptophasa, Xylorycta, Maroga and Uzucha. ... Uzucha humeralis Walk. (pl. 30, fig. 2), from Queensland. is a dull brownish moth expanding two inches, the forewing of the costa greatly arched basally, the hindwing shading to pale yellow in apical third; the larvae feed in covered galleries on the smooth bark of Angophora. (Tillyard, 1926).
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| Uzucha humeralis, fig. 104, Common, 1963. |
The brown webbing which covers the tunnels of Uzucha humeralis Walk. (104, male 1.9 inches) in the bark of the spotted gum, Eucalyptus maculata [Corymbia maculata], is a familiar sight in coastal eastern Australia. (Common, 1963).
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| Uzucha humeralis, Fig 36.32D: Common, 1970 |
A conspicuous gallery of silk and bark particles is constructed by the larva of Uzucha humeralis Walk. (Fig 36.32D) which feeds on the surface of the bark of Angophora and smooth-barked Eucalyptus. The adult has the base of the costa in the fore wing strongly arched, very short labial palpi, and smoothly scaled hind tibiae. (Common, 1970).
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| Fig. 23.6: Common, 1990 |
Diagnosis:
Description:
Head:
Thorax:
Abdomen:
Food plants:
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| Uzucha humeralis, habitus. Fig 51.11: Common 1990 |
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| Uzucha humeralis. The caterpillar’s mobile frass-covered tent, with bark browsings. Imbil, SE Queensland. |
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| Uzucha humeralis. Area of surface bark browsed by caterpillar. Imbil, SE Queensland. |
Larva in silken gallery covered by conspicuous brown web in bark. Larval food plants: Eucalyptus maculata [Corymbia maculata], Eucalyptus platyphylla, Eucalyptus spp., Angophora sp. (Myrtaceae). (Edwards, 2003).
Flight period:
Distribution: New South Wales, Queensland. Endemic. (Edwards, 2003).
Remarks: