Australothis volatilis

Australothis volatilis
Female
Male
Conservation status
Nationally Critical (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Australothis
Species:	A. volatilis
Binomial name
Australothis volatilis Matthews & Patrick, 1998

Australothis volatilis, the fuzzweed moth, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was discovered by Brian H. Patrick in Central Otago in 1989. ^[2] It was first described by him and his colleague M. Matthews in 1998. ^[3]

Distribution

A. volatilis is endemic to New Zealand. ^[4] It has been found in only six sites in Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin. ^[5]

Host plants

White fuzzweed ( Vittadinia australis )

The larvae of this species feed on Vittadinia species. ^[6] The natural host of A. volatilis appears to be the white fuzzweed herb Vittadinia australis . This plant is also endemic to New Zealand and is itself in need of conservation. ^[5] The caterpillars of A. volatilis feed on the flowerheads, leaves and developing seeds of the plant. ^[5] Larvae have also been seen feeding on the exotic species Vittadinia gracilis but it is unknown whether this plant provides the necessary nutrients to the larvae to ensure their successful maturation. ^[5]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical. ^[1]

References

1. Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 5. ISBN   9781988514383.
2. Hoare, R. J. B. (22 June 2017). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 1: Austramathes, Cosmodes, Proteuxoa, Physetica" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 73: 13. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.73. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2017– via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
3. Matthews, M.; Patrick, B. (1998-02-01). "A new diurnal species of Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) endemic to New Zealand". Journal of Natural History. 32 (2): 263–271. doi:10.1080/00222939800770131. ISSN   0022-2933.(Subscription required.)
4. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 461. ISBN   9781877257933. OCLC   973607714.
5. "Fuzzweed Moth" (PDF). www.endangeredspecies.org.nz. Endangered Species Foundation. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
6. Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). "Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera" (PDF). Science for Conservation. 136. Department of Conservation: 1–33. Retrieved 12 October 2025.