Helastia siris

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Helastia siris
Helastia siris male.jpg
Male
Status NZTCS REL.svg
Relict (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Hexapoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Genus:
Helastia
Species:
H. siris
Binomial name
Helastia siris
(Hawthorne, 1897) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Asaphodes sirisHawthorne, 1897

Helastia siris is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by E. F. Hawthorne in 1897 using a specimen he collected in Wellington and named Asaphodes siris. [3] [2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1898 book under the same name and in his 1928 book as synonym of Hydriomena triphragma. [4] [5] In 1987 Robin C. Craw placed this species within the genus Helastia. [6] The holotype specimen is held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. [2]

Description

Hudson described the species as follows:

The expansion of the wings is about 7⁄8 inch. The fore-wings are dull ochreous ; there is a small curved brown patch near the base ; then a pale band, followed by a very broad brown central band, paler in the middle ; there is a very sharp projection on the outer edge of the central band, a conspicuous black dot in the centre of the wing, and a series of minute black dots on the termen. The hind-wings are pale ochreous, with a faint central transverse line. [4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [7] [1] It occurs in Wellington, Stephens Island and in the Chatham Islands. [6] It has been collected from Baring Head. [8]

Biology and lifecycle

Very little is known about the biology of H. siris. [9] It is on the wing in March. [4]

Host species and habitat

This species prefers short tussock grassland habitat in coastal areas. [6] The host species for the larvae of H. siris is unknown. [9] It has been hypothesised the larvae of H. siris feed on the flowers of Helichrysum species and then feed on mosses, lichens or shrubs growing nearby. [10]

Conservation status

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

Related Research Articles

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

Asaphodes aegrota is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 as Selidosema aegrota. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species inhabits open spaces in lowland native forest. The larvae of A. aegrota feed on native herbs and have also been observed feeding of the introduced lawn daisy. The adults are variable in appearance with the markings on both sides of its wings varying in intensity. Some populations also have narrow winged females. Adults are on the wing from November until March.

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

Asaphodes adonis is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It is found in native forest at altitudes of between 300 and 1200 metres. Larvae have been reared on species of Ranunculus. Adults are on the wing in January and February.

<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 chlamydota</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes chlamydota is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, and can be found in the lower part of the North Island and in the South Island. It inhabits native forest and shrublands. The larvae of this species feeds on native Clematis plants including Clematis afoliata. Adults are on the wing from November to April and are regarded as having intermedia flight powers.

<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 subobscurata</i> Species of moth

Gingidiobora subobscurata is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as "At Risk, Declining" 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. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

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

Helastia clandestina is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

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

Helastia expolita is a moth of the family Geometridae. 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. It 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. It is classified as "At Risk, Nationally Uncommon" 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 glaciata</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes glaciata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. This moth has only be found in Westland in the areas near Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Adults of this species are on the wing in January.

<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>Notoreas ortholeuca</i> Species of moth

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

<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 4,000ft. 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 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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Helastia siris (Hawthorne, 1897)". 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. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  3. ↑ Hawthorne, E. F. (1897). "Descriptions of two new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 29: 282–283 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. 1 2 3 Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & Co. p. 55. OCLC   10581623.
  5. ↑ Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 98. OCLC   25449322.
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  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. ↑ Crisp, Philippa (2008). "Baring Head ecological values" (PDF). www.gw.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  9. 1 2 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.
  10. ↑ Patrick, Brian (2014). "Of lichens and mosses" (PDF). Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. 11: 8.
  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. 8. ISBN   9781988514383.


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