Fauna of New Zealand 72: Micropterigidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) - Conservation
Gibbs, G W 2014. Fauna of New Zealand. 72, 127 pages.
(
ISSN 0111-5383 (print),
ISSN 1179-7193 (online)
;
no.
72.
ISBN 978-0-478-34759-3 (print),
ISBN 978-0-478-34760-9 (online)
).
Published 30 Jun 2014
ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/References/D6BC8C34-6D93-4EC7-BCB3-5670B2CFE744
DOI: 10.7931/J2/FNZ.72
Conservation
Threats to the survival of micropterigids are unknown, apart from the loss of habitat, which can be a serious issue in New Zealand. Although most species have been found in reasonable numbers, it does not necessarily follow that they pose no conservation problems. Three species (S. pluvialis, S. weheka, and S. bimacula) are known from only one or two localities but these locations are embedded in National Parks and so are as secure as we can make them today. Each of the other 16 species occurs at some or all of their range within protected areas. In short, although six species (incongruella, calliarcha, aenea, chalcophanes, caustica, and quadrijuga) were originally found in locations that are unknown or unprotected, all are now known from many sites, the majority of which have some form of protection, and hence are not especially vulnerable. There are no documented or suspected examples of declining populations.