Species Information

Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
    Class: Insecta
      Order: Lepidoptera
        Family: Scythrididae
          Genus: Areniscythris
            Species: whitesands

White Sands Dune Moth - Areniscythris whitesands

White Sands Dune Moth

Image courtesy of Biota Information System of New Mexico

1381282

Species Extent (New Mexico)

Status

Global Rank: GNR

State Rank: S1

Rank Metadata
State Rank: S1 Rank Changed: N/A
Rank Reviewed: N/A
Reason: <em>Areniscythris whitesandsis</em> a Scythridid moth endemic to the gypsum dune ecosystem of the Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico. It has been recorded very few times, though survey effort in the region has been minimal. Based on known occurrences, 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>. The main threats of drought and groundwater drawdown is increasing sand motility. This habitat instability is pervasive across the range of the species. While the timing and severity of this threat is not well understood, the species is known from just one locality within a very specific, restricted habitat. If this is the only locality of the species, it would be found in one location. However, survey effort has been limited and the species may be found elsewhere throughout the White Sands ecosystem. If this is the case, it is unlikely the species is found in more than five locations, given the limited possible range of the species.. Continuing decline is also inferred for this species, due to the threats of habitat instability and increased incidence of drought due to climate change. As a result, the species is currently assessed as S1 in New Mexico. However, a reassessment should be done if more information becomes available.
 
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: Only one known occurrence record is available for this species that being the type locality in White Sands National Park, in the Tularosa Basin of Otero County, in southern New Mexico. It was specifically found in association with dune crests, which are poorly surveyed (Metzler and Lightfoot 2014). Threat Summary: N/A

State Status:

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status:

SWAP Status: SGCN

NMRP Strategy Status:

Observations in Natural Heritage New Mexico Database

Number of Subpopulations: 1

Number of Mapped Locations: 2

Number of Observations: 1

Observation date range: 01-01-2012 to 01-01-2012


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