Austrocidaria cedrinodes

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Austrocidaria cedrinodes
Austrocidaria cedrinodes female.jpg
Female
Austrocidaria cedrinodes male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Austrocidaria
Species:
A. cedrinodes
Binomial name
Austrocidaria cedrinodes
(Meyrick, 1911 [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Xanthorhoe cedrinodesMeyrick, 1911
  • Xanthorhoe sedrinodes(Meyrick, 1911) misspelling
  • Xanthorhoe undulataPhilpott, 1913

Austrocidaria cedrinodes is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. [1] It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North, South and Stewart Islands. Although widespread across the country A. cedrinodes is regarded as being a scarce species. It inhabits open native scrubland populated with species of Leptospermum , Dracophyllum as well as species in the genus Coprosma. This latter genus contains the larval host plants of A. cedrinodes. Adults are on the wing commonly from September until February and are nocturnal and attracted to light.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 using two specimens collected at 4200 ft on the Mount Arthur tableland at night on Hebe blossoms by George Hudson. Meyrick originally named the species Xanthorhoe cedrinodes. [3] In 1913 Alfred Philpott, thinking he was describing a new species, named this species Xanthorhoe undulata. This name was synonymised by Meyrick in 1917. [4] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Xanthorhoe cedrinodes. [5] In 1939 Louis Beethoven Prout discussed this species under the name Xanthorhoe episema. [6] John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Austrocidaria and at the same synonymised X. episema with that name. [2] The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]

Description

Male A. cedrinodes showing antennae pectinations. Austrocidaria cedrinodes 259106627.jpg
Male A. cedrinodes showing antennae pectinations.

Meyrick described this species as follows:

♂♀. 40 mm. Head and thorax dark grey mixed with brown-reddish. Antennal pectinations in ♂ a 2, b 1+1⁄2. Abdomen grey. Forewings triangular, costa moderately arched towards apex, apex obtuse, termen waved, slightly rounded, rather oblique ; reddish-fuscous, more or less sprinkled with black, tending to form curved waved transverse striae ; costa marked irregularly with black ; a curved band of several pale whitish-ochreous striae separating basal patch and median band, former edged with blackish and both slightly with white ; median band broad, variably marked with black on edges and veins, middle third of posterior edge forming a moderate obtuse double prominence, partially finely edged with white posteriorly ; beyond this a band of two or three cloudy pale whitish-ochreous striae, veins on this marked with black ; subterminal line slender, waved, indistinct, pale whitish-ochreous ; a black terminal line marked with ochreous-whitish dots on veins : cilia dark fuscous mixed with brown-reddish and whitish. Hindwings with termen somewhat rounded, crenate ; pale rosy- greyish-ochreous, with traces of faint grey striae ; posterior edge of median band more marked, angulated in middle, blackish-sprinkled towards dorsum ; some reddish-fuscous suffusion along termen ; a black terminal line : cilia reddish-fuscous mixed with ochreous-whitish and dark grey. [3]

Hudson pointed out that both the males and females of this species vary in the intensity of their markings and colouring. [5] This species has been confused with A. prionota however it can be distinguished as A. cedrinodes is of a larger size and the male of the species has pectinated antennae. [5] It has also been confused with Hydriomena hemizona but again can be distinguished as a result of the antennae pectinations on the male A. cedrinodes. [7]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] Other than its type locality, A. cedrinodes has also been observed around Mount Ruapehu as well as other areas in the central North Island, throughout the South Island including in Otago, Southland and on Stewart Island. [5] [7] This species is regarded as being widespread but sparse. [7]

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits open scrubland and is commonly found in habitat containing Leptospermum and Dracophyllum species as well as species in the genus Coprosma. [5] A. cedrinodes has also been observed as having an affinity for stands of Olearia colensoi . [8] The larval host plants of A. cedrinodes are within the genus Coprosma. [9]

Behaviour

Adults of this species are on the wing in September until February and are nocturnal. [5] [3] Adults are attracted to light. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Austrocidaria cedrinodes (Meyrick, 1911)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  2. 1 2 3 Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 1–264. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  3. 1 2 3 E. Meyrick (1 July 1911). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 72. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q58200989.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. ↑ Edward Meyrick (December 1917). "Revision of New Zealand Notodontina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 49: 248–273. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q110727829.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 114, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. ↑ Prout, L. B. (1939). "Geometridae: Fauna Indo-Australica". The Macrolepidoptera of the World. 12: 250 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Carey Knox (2024). Butterflies & Moths of Aotearoa New Zealand. John Beaufoy Publishing. p. 46. ISBN   978-1-913679-66-8. Wikidata   Q130640046.
  8. ↑ Spain, A. V. (1967), A study of the arthropoda associated with Olearia colensoi hook. f., Research@Lincoln, p. 189, hdl:10182/2760, Wikidata   Q112836510
  9. ↑ "Austrocidaria cedrinodes (Meyrick, 1911),". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 9 Sep 2010. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
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