Helastia plumbea

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Helastia plumbea
Helastia plumbea female.jpg
Female
Helastia plumbea male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Helastia
Species:
H. plumbea
Binomial name
Helastia plumbea
(Philpott, 1915)
Synonyms [1]
  • Xanthorhoe plumbeaPhilpott, 1915

Helastia plumbea is a moth of the family Geometridae. [1] 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1915 using four specimens collected in Queenstown in November and was originally named Xanthorhoe plumbea. [2] [3] George Hudson discussed this species under that name in his book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. [4] Philpott illustrated the male genitalia of this species in 1928. [5] L. B. Prout, in 1939, discussed this species as a synonym of Xanthorhoe infantaria. [6] In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Helastia. [7] [8] In 1987 R. C. Craw discussed this species while revising the genus Helastia. [8] The male holotype is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. [3]

Description

Male holotype specimen for Xanthorhoe plumbea, now known as Helastia plumbea. Helastia plumbea holotype.png
Male holotype specimen for Xanthorhoe plumbea, now known as Helastia plumbea.
Living male specimen of Helastia plumbea. Helastia plumbea 172806411.jpg
Living male specimen of Helastia plumbea.

This species was originally described by Philpott as follows:

♂ 18–20 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax grey mixed with black. Antennae fuscous, pectinations moderate. Abdomen grey, each segment bearing dorsally a pair of cuneate black marks. Forewings rather elongate, costa sinuate, moderately arched, apex subacute, termen almost straight, oblique; bluish-grey with some reddish-ochreous on veins and posterior to second line; lines formed of bluish-grey irregular paired striae; basal line obscure, curved; first line rather angulated at middle, margined anteriorly with white, angle marked with reddish-ochreous; a rather prominent spot of reddish-ochreous between basal and first lines at middle; a suffused reddish-ochreous discal spot; second line irregularly curved, its outer margin marked by a series of white points which are sometimes more or less connected by a thin white line; an obscure reddish-ochreous subterminal line; veins beyond second line marked with blackish interrupted by some white dots; an obscure black waved line round termen: cilia white, mixed with grey and with obscure darker bars. Hindwings rather elongate, termen strongly rounded; fuscous-grey; discal dot and some striae on terminal portion obscurely indicated; an obscure waved black line round termen: cilia white, mixed with grey and with suffused darker bars. [2]

This species can be distinguished from its sister species as a result of the blueish grey colour of the underside of the forewing as well as the reddish-ochreous discal spot on the upperside of the forewing. [8]

Distribution

H. plumbea is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. [8] In the North Island it is recorded in the Taupo region; in the South Island it is found in the Nelson, Buller, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Westland, Mackenzie, Dunedin, Central Otago, Otago Lakes and Fiordland areas. [8]

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits stream and river banks in montane to subalpine terrain. [8] Although the life history of this species is poorly known, the larval host plants of this species are likely mosses or herbs or possibly lichens. [9]

Behaviour

Adults of this species have been observed on the wing from October to April. [10] They are nocturnal and are attracted to light. [9]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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<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>Asaphodes dionysias</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes dionysias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is only known from mountainous areas in Central Otago. It lives in open grassy mountainous habitat at altitudes up to 1750 m. It is also known to live in wetland habitat. The larvae of this species feed on native herbs. The adults of this species are on the wing in January and February. The adult female of the species has reduced wing size in comparison to the male.

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

Asaphodes exoriens is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in Central Otago. This is an alpine species and frequents open grassy habitat. They can also be found in upland wetland habitat at altitudes between 800 and 1100 m. Adults are on the wing in March.

<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>Tingena honesta</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

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

Asaphodes oraria is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern South Island and on Stewart Island / Rakiura. The male is pale yellow coloured and the female has severely reduced wings and is flightless. The habitat of this species is tussock grasslands on coastal sand dunes and in the mountains at elevations of approximately 4,000 ft. The larvae have adapted to feeding on exotic lawn daisy species in the genus Bellis. The adults of this species are on the wing from November to April.

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

Asaphodes prymnaea is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on the Mount Arthur tableland. It is common in limestone valleys. The female of the species is paler and has less distinctive markings than the male. Adults are on the wing in January and February.

<i>Asaphodes recta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Asaphodes recta is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern parts of the South Island. The preferred habitat of this species is open tussock grassland. The adults are on the wing in February and March. Larvae of this species have been reared on species in the genera Ranunculus and Bellis.

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

Asaphodes sericodes is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. This species inhabits open tussock grasslands in subalpine scrub or wetlands. The female of the species is likely semi-apterous and is flightless. The adult males are on the wing in January.

<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 farinata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Helastia farinata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by William Warren in 1896. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island. H. farinata inhabits shady and damp forest ravines.

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

Xanthorhoe orophylloides is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by George Hudson in 1909 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in the subantarctic islands including at the Auckland Islands and at Campbell Island.

References

  1. 1 2 "Helastia plumbea (Philpott, 1915)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  2. 1 2 Alfred Philpott (12 July 1915). "Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47: 194–195. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q66084596.
  3. 1 2 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: 181. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  4. ↑ Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 113, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286
  5. ↑ Alfred Philpott (September 1928). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 59: 486. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q68431664.
  6. ↑ Prout, L. B. (1939). "Geometridae: Fauna Indo-Australica". The Macrolepidoptera of the World (Stuttgart). 12: 237–292 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  7. ↑ Dugdale, J. S. (10 November 1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae". Pacific Insects Monographs . 27: 101. ISSN   0078-7515. Wikidata   Q64006453.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 R. C. Craw (April 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. ISSN   0301-4223. Wikidata   Q54670161.
  9. 1 2 Carey Knox (2024). Butterflies & Moths of Aotearoa New Zealand. John Beaufoy Publishing. p. 56. ISBN   978-1-913679-66-8. Wikidata   Q130640046.
  10. ↑ "Helastia plumbea". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
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