Helastia clandestina

Last updated

Helastia clandestina
Helastia clandestina female.jpg
Female
Helastia clandestina male.jpg
Male
Status NZTCS REL.svg
Relict (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Helastia
Species:
H. clandestina
Binomial name
Helastia clandestina
(Philpott, 1921) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Xanthorhoe clandestinaPhilpott, 1921

Helastia clandestina is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in the South Island in and around Arthur's Pass. Adults have been collected on the wing in February and are nocturnal. Its preferred habitat is dry stony riverbeds and flood plains. The glossy blueish grey colouration of the adults of this species helps camouflage them against the rocks in their preferred habitat. H. clandestina is classified as having the conservation status of "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1921 using a specimen collected by E.S. Gourlay at Arthur's Pass and named Xanthorhoe clandestina. [3] [2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand under the same name. [4] In 1987 Robin C. Craw placed this species within the genus Helastia. [5] The holotype specimen is held at the Canterbury Museum. [2]

Description

Illustration by George Hudson. Fig 38 MA I437611 TePapa Plate-XII-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration by George Hudson.

Philpott described the species as follows:

♂︎. 35 mm. Head and palpi grey-whitish. Eyes olive-brown. Antennae dark grey, pectinations 5 but appearing shorter owing to being basally appressed to the shaft. Thorax grey. Abdomen whitish-grey. Fore-wings elongate-triangular, costa sinuate, apex bluntly pointed, termen straight, oblique ; bluish-grey ; lines faintly indicated in darker ; an irregular basal line at 1⁄6 ; first line at 1⁄3, double, slightly waved ; discal spot rather elongate, transverse, dark ; a fairly straight, slightly waved, median line ; second line from 2⁄3 costa to 3⁄4 dorsum, excurved on upper half, faintly margined with white on veins : cilia white, basally mixed with grey. Hindwings grey, slightly darker round termen : cilia white. [3]

The glossy blueish grey colouration of the adults of this species helps camouflage them against rocks. [6]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [7] [1] It occurs in Westland, North Canterbury and Mid Canterbury. [8]

Biology and lifecycle

Very little is known about the biology of H. clandestina. [9] Hudson records it being on the wing in February. [4] Adult moths are nocturnal and are drawn to light. [5] [10]

Host species and habitat

Waimakariri River Waimakariri03 gobeirne.jpg
Waimakariri River

The host species for the larvae of H. clandestina is unknown. [8] H. clandestina prefers stony riverbed habitat such as at the Waimakariri River flood plain. [8] [9]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Relict". [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Circoxena ditrocha</i> Species of moth

Circoxena ditrocha is a species of moth in the family Blastodacnidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected on both the North and South Islands. The habitat of this species is on the edges of native forest or scrub and it may be associated with Pseudopanax arboreus. As of 2000 the host species of this moth is unknown but it has been hypothesised that the larvae are seed borers. Adults are on the wing in December to March. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Epichorista tenebrosa</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Epichorista tenebrosa is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in Otago and has been collected in tussock grassland habitats. It is a late autumn emerging moth and adults are on the wing in February. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Elachista helonoma</i> Species of moth

Elachista helonoma is a species of moth in the family Elachistidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

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

Pseudocoremia lutea is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Xanthorhoe bulbulata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Xanthorhoe bulbulata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Asaphodes imperfecta</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes imperfecta is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern part of the South Island. The species inhabits low lying swampy native forest. The host plants of the larvae of this species is unknown. The adults are on the wing in December and January. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Gingidiobora nebulosa</i> Species of moth

Gingidiobora nebulosa, the gingidium looper moth, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Acroclita discariana</i> Species of moth

Acroclita discariana is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae, endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Asaphodes chlorocapna</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes chlorocapna is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can only be found in the Chatham Islands. The larvae of this species consume the leaves of Muehlenbeckia plants. Adults are on the wing in January. This species is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Helastia angusta</i> Species of moth

Helastia angusta is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Mackenzie and Otago Lakes districts of the South Island. The preferred habitat of this species is montane areas. Adults have been observed on the wing from October until December. As at 2000, the larval host species is unknown. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Helastia expolita</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Helastia expolita is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and occurs in the Buller, Marlborough, North and Mid Canterbury regions.This species inhabits short tussock grassland in montane to subalpine zones. Adult moths are nocturnal but little is known about the life history of H. expolita. Adults have been observed on the wing in November. It has been hypothesised the larvae of H. expolita feed on the flowers of Helichrysum species and then feed on mosses, lichens or shrubs growing nearby. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Helastia siris</i> Species of moth

Helastia siris is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the Wellington region as well as on Stephens and the Chatham Islands. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation. H. siris inhabits coastal tussock grassland. Little is known of the biology of this species. Adults have been observed on the wing in March and September. Adults are nocturnal and are attracted to light.

<i>Hierodoris stella</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Hierodoris stella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and occurs in Auckland, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty and Wellington. As at 2005 the larvae of this species is unknown as is its host plant. The adult moth frequents forest and are on the wing in January and February. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Meterana exquisita</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Meterana exquisita is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Meterana grandiosa</i> Species of moth

Meterana grandiosa is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Paranotoreas fulva</i> Species of moth

Paranotoreas fulva is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern half of the South Island. The preferred habitat of this species are the salt pans of Otago, the mountainous grassland areas in South Canterbury and Otago and the glacial outwash terraces south of Tekapo. The larvae feed on Atriplex buchananii and Plantago coronopus. Adults are day flying and have been recorded as being on the wing in March, October and December. P. fulva is classified as "At Risk, Relict" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Xanthorhoe lophogramma</i> Species of moth

Xanthorhoe lophogramma is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and if found in the South Island. This species inhabits dry beech scrub but its larval host is unknown. Adult moths are on the wing in January. This species is classified as "At Risk, Nationally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Asaphodes ida</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes ida is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth can be found in upland or alpine habitat in Canterbury and Otago. Although not classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system, this species is regarded as rare.

<i>Helastia cymozeucta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Helastia cymozeucta is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1913. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and the upper parts of the South Island. The adults of this species have been observed on the wing from November to January as well as in March.

<i>Helastia plumbea</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Helastia plumbea is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. The species inhabits stream and river banks in montane to subalpine terrain. Adults are on the wing from October to April and are nocturnal and attracted to light. The life history of this species is, at 2024, poorly known but the larval host plants are likely mosses, herbs or possibly lichens.

References

  1. 1 2 "Helastia clandestina (Philpott, 1921)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  2. 1 2 3 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 181. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 Philpott, Alfred (1921). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 53: 337–342. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 113.
  5. 1 2 Craw, R. C. (1987). "Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14 (2): 269–293. doi:10.1080/03014223.1987.10422997.
  6. ↑ Buckley, Thomas R.; Hoare, Robert J. B.; Leschen, Richard A. B. (2022-10-09). "Key questions on the evolution and biogeography of New Zealand alpine insects". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand: 1–25. doi:10.1080/03036758.2022.2130367. ISSN   0303-6758. PMC   11459838 .
  7. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 459. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  8. 1 2 3 Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 24. ISBN   978-0478218671. OCLC   154670803.
  9. 1 2 Pawson, S.M.; Emberson, R.M. (2000). "The conservation status of invertebrates in Canterbury" (PDF). Conservation Advisory Science Notes. 320: 1–64.
  10. ↑ Carey-Knox-Southern-Scales (2022-10-15). "Helastia christinae". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  11. ↑ 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. 7. ISBN   9781988514383.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.