Arotrura landryorum (Landry's Flower Moth) | Natural Heritage New Mexico

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Scythrididae

Genus: Arotrura

Species: landryorum

Landry's Flower Moth - Arotrura landryorum

1381922

Species Extent (New Mexico)

Global Rank: GNR

State Rank: S1

Rank Metadata
State Rank: S1	Rank Changed: 02/28/2025
Rank Reviewed: N/A
Reason: <em>Aleptina arenaria</em> is a Scythrididae moth endemic to a unique gypsum sand dune ecosystem of the Tularosa Basin, in southern New Mexico. It has been recorded from just one locality, though survey effort in the region has been minimal. Based on this one known occurrence, the estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) could be as little as 4 km<sup>2</sup>. Given lack of survey effort, these parameters are likely underestimated. If the species is found across the dune ecosystem, the EOO and AOO could be as much as 1,028 km<sup>2</sup>. This species is found in just one location, so far. The main threats of drought and groundwater drawdown is increasing sand motility and this habitat instability is pervasive across the entire ecosystem. Though the timing and severity of this threat is not well understood, given the limited distribution, it could be devastating. Continuing decline is also inferred for this species, due to the threats of habitat instability and increased incidence of drought due to climate change. Until the species is confirmed in additional localities, it is assessed as S1 in New Mexico.

Ecological Factors
Specificity: Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common.	Range Extent: <100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Occurences: 1 - 5	Population Size: Unknown
Area of Occupancy: This moth is only known from the Tularosa Basin of Otero County, in southern New Mexico. So far, it has only been collected at the one locality at White Sands National Park (Metzler 2016).	Threat Summary: N/A

State Status:

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status:

SWAP Status: SGCN

NMRP Strategy Status:

Number of Subpopulations: 1

Number of Mapped Locations: 6

Number of Observations: 3

Observation date range: 01-01-2024 to 01-01-2024

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