Tasmantrix thula
Encyclopedia
Tasmantrix thula is a moth
of the Micropterigidae
family. It is known from eastern Australia
, where it is known from northern Queensland
, from Devil’s Thumb and Mossman
Gorge in the north to Mission Beach and from Herberton State Forest to Mission beach.
The forewing length is 3.2 mm for males and 3.8 mm for females. The forewing ground colour is dark blackish-brown with strong purple iridescence. There are three shining white fasciae and a subtle pattern of silvery-white scale patterns in the apical third. The first is a short basal triangular streak to about one eighth, tapering from full wing width to an acute point behind the costa, separated from the costal margin by a single line of black scales. The second is a broad transverse band of constant width, at about one third and finally a small triangular area of white scales in the apex. There are narrow patches of white scales between the veins around the margin of the wing in the apical third, and a radiating pattern of fine, single-scale lines along all veins in the apical third. The fringes are black with grey tips, especially around the apex. The hindwing is uniformly dark-grey scaled with weak bronzy sheen. The fringes are dark grey.
and is to signify the geographic location of this species within the
calliplaca
-group of species.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Micropterigidae
Micropterigidae
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about 20 living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of Lepidoptera ....
family. It is known from eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where it is known from northern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, from Devil’s Thumb and Mossman
Gorge in the north to Mission Beach and from Herberton State Forest to Mission beach.
The forewing length is 3.2 mm for males and 3.8 mm for females. The forewing ground colour is dark blackish-brown with strong purple iridescence. There are three shining white fasciae and a subtle pattern of silvery-white scale patterns in the apical third. The first is a short basal triangular streak to about one eighth, tapering from full wing width to an acute point behind the costa, separated from the costal margin by a single line of black scales. The second is a broad transverse band of constant width, at about one third and finally a small triangular area of white scales in the apex. There are narrow patches of white scales between the veins around the margin of the wing in the apical third, and a radiating pattern of fine, single-scale lines along all veins in the apical third. The fringes are black with grey tips, especially around the apex. The hindwing is uniformly dark-grey scaled with weak bronzy sheen. The fringes are dark grey.
Etymology
The species name is derived from the Greek geographic location thule which refers to a northern land first described by PytheasPytheas
Pytheas of Massalia or Massilia , was a Greek geographer and explorer from the Greek colony, Massalia . He made a voyage of exploration to northwestern Europe at about 325 BC. He travelled around and visited a considerable part of Great Britain...
and is to signify the geographic location of this species within the
calliplaca
Tasmantrix calliplaca
Tasmantrix calliplaca is a moth of the Micropterigidae family. It is known from eastern Australia, in coastal rainforest from Finch Hatton Gorge, Eungella Range in Queensland to Elizabeth Beach in New South Wales....
-group of species.