Declana floccosa

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Declana floccosa
Declana floccosa male.jpg
Male specimen
Declana floccosa female.jpg
Female specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Genus:
Declana
Species:
D. floccosa
Binomial name
Declana floccosa
Walker, 1858 [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Declana scabraWalker, 1863
  • Declana nigrosparsaButler, 1879
  • Declana callistaSalmon, 1946

Declana floccosa, the forest semilooper or manuka moth is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. [1] It was first described by Francis Walker in 1863 using specimens obtained from Colonel Bolton. [2]

Contents

The wingspan of this species is 27–35 mm and is extremely variable in colour and patterning. [3] [4] [5]

The larvae feed on a wide range of native and exotic broad-leaved and coniferous shrubs and trees. [6] Exotic hosts include Pinus radiata and other Pinus species, Pseudotsuga menziesii , Larix and Eucalyptus . [3] Native hosts include Muehlenbeckia australis. [7]

Population decline and recovery

A longitudinal study from 1974 to 2016 indicated the population of this moth declined sharply in the study area in the mid-1980s but began to recover in the late 1990s. [5] It has been hypothesised that the arrival of Vespula vulgaris in New Zealand might be the cause of the population decline. [5] It was also hypothesised that the recovery in population may have been brought about as a result of the extended emergence period of this moth which gave those moths emerging later in the season the ability to avoid predation by wasps. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Pseudocoremia suavis</i> Species of moth

Pseudocoremia suavis, the common forest looper, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is regarded as being endemic to New Zealand. In 2007, however, the moth was found in west Cornwall, Great Britain, the first time it has been found outside of New Zealand.

<i>Gellonia dejectaria</i> Species of moth

Gellonia dejectaria, the brown evening moth, is a moth in the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1860. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Declana</i> Genus of insects

Declana is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae that is endemic to New Zealand. The genus was erected by Francis Walker in 1858.

<i>Pseudocoremia fenerata</i> Species of moth

Pseudocoremia fenerata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Ichneutica ustistriga</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica ustistriga is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island. This species lives in a wide variety of habitats including domestic gardens, horticultural areas, orchards, native and exotic grasslands, as well as native forest. The larvae eat a variety of herbaceous plants. Recorded food plants include Muehlenbeckia australis, Muehlenbeckia complexa, Olearia hectorii, Plantago lanceolata, and Urtica australis. This moth has a mauvish grey wing colour and is unlikely to be confused with other species as the patterns on its forewing are distinctive. This species is on the wing throughout the year and is attracted to both sugar and light traps. Adult moths can be found at rest on fences and tree trunks during the day.

<i>Izatha attactella</i> Species of moth

Izatha attactella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from both the North and South Islands as far south as mid-Canterbury. Larvae of this species feed on the soft inner surface of the bark of dead trees and shrubs. Adults have been recorded from September to December.

<i>Heterocrossa exochana</i> Species of moth

Heterocrossa exochana is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Chloroclystis inductata</i> Species of moth

Chloroclystis inductata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1862. The male of this species can be easily identified by the distinctive 'scalloping' of the hindwings.

<i>Pasiphila muscosata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Pasiphila muscosata, the emerald pug moth, is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the North, South and Stewart Islands. The larvae of this species are known to be present in January and live on Muehlenbeckia species including Muehlenbeckia australis. The larvae tends to be brown but it is variable in both colour and markings. The larvae of this species pupates in a loose cocoon on the ground and adult moths emerge in September. Adults are commonly on the wing until the following May. Although adults tend to be a deep emerald green colour this species is again variable and there is also an orange-yellow variety as well as intermediate forms. Adults are attracted to light and often rest during the day on tree trunks.

<i>Declana niveata</i> Species of moth

Declana niveata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879. The larvae of this species feed on Hoheria species.

<i>Glaucocharis lepidella</i> Species of moth

Glaucocharis lepidella is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1866. It is endemic to New Zealand. Larvae of this species feed on mosses.

<i>Bityla defigurata</i> Species of moth

Bityla defigurata is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Declana griseata</i> Species of moth

Declana griseata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "At Risk, Declining" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Notoreas chioneres</i> Species of moth

Notoreas chioneres is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Tingena</i> Genus of moths

Tingena is a genus of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae). This genus is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Notoreas elegans</i> Species of moth

Notoreas elegans is a species of moth in the family Geometridae, endemic to New Zealand. This species has a wide distribution in New Zealand and is therefore regarded as not being in need of conservation.

<i>Notoreas isoleuca</i> Species of moth

Notoreas isoleuca is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Declana leptomera</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Declana leptomera is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Pseudocoremia lupinata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Pseudocoremia lupinata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in both the North and South Islands. The favoured habitat of this species is Kānuka scrubland as one of its larval hosts is Kunzea ericoides. Other larval host plant species of this moth include Prumnopitys ferruginea, Podocarpus totara and Pinus radiata. Both the larvae and adults of this species are nocturnal. Adult moths are commonly on the wing from December to June and are attracted to light.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Declana floccosa Walker, 1858". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  2. ↑ Walker, Francis (1858). "Noctuidae". List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. 15: 1521–1888 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. 1 2 "Declana floccosa, forest semilooper". www.nzffa.org.nz. New Zealand Farm Forestry Association. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Hudson, George Vernon (1888). "On the varieties of a common moth (Declana floccosa)". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 21: 190–193 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. 1 2 3 4 John E. C. Flux; Meg M. Flux (3 July 2019). "Polymorph stability, and changed flight period, of Declana floccosa Walker, 1858 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in New Zealand, 1974–2016". New Zealand Entomologist. 42 (2): 100–109. doi:10.1080/00779962.2019.1676134. ISSN   0077-9962. Wikidata   Q105348997.
  6. ↑ "PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  7. ↑ Patrick, Brian (18 May 2016). "Ecological importance of Muehlenbeckia australis/Pohuehue". www.openspace.org.nz. Retrieved 2017-02-07.


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