Homodotis falcata

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Homodotis falcata
Homodotis falcata female.jpg
Female
Homodotis falcata male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Homodotis
Species:
H. falcata
Binomial name
Homodotis falcata
(Butler, 1879) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Larentia? falcataButler, 1879
  • Xanthorhoe falcata(Butler, 1879)
  • Larentia? rufescensButler, 1879
  • Asaphodes rufescens(Butler, 1879)
  • Eurydice cymosemaMeyrick, 1883

Homodotis falcata is a moth of the family Geometridae. [3] It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern part of the South Island. The larvae of this species feed on leaf litter and adults are on the wing for most months of the year. The forwings of this species can vary in depth of colour.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1879 by Arthur Gardiner Butler and tentatively placed in the genus Larentia. [4] Butler used a male specimen collected in Dunedin by F. W. Hutton. [2] In 1883 Edward Meyrick, thinking he was describing a new species, named this species Eurydice cymosema. [2] Meyrick synonymised that name in 1884. [2] George Hudson discussed this species under the name Xanthorhoe falcata in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [5] Hudson stated that Louis Beethoven Prout believed the holotype specimen to be a large dark form of the species Asaphodes rufescens. [6] [5] J. S. Dugdale agreed with Prout, pointing out in his 1988 publication, that the New Zealand Arthropod Collection holds specimens that have coloration ranging from dark, intermediate to light and as a result Dugdale synonymised Asaphodes rufescens with this species. [2] The male holotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]

Description

Butler described the male holotype specimen as follows:

Allied to L. punctilineata (which it much resembles in colour and markings), but larger and with distinctly falcate primaries; primaries reddish-brown, with the base and a broad central belt dark brown traversed by blackish lines and margined by white dots ; a black discocellular dot; external border blackish, diffused; two or three whitish subapical dots; secondaries silvery-grey with a darker waved central belt formed of parallel dark grey lines, dotted with black upon the abdominal margin, white bordered; a submarginal series of white-bordered grey spots; a marginal series of blackish dots in pairs; fringe pale reddish-brown; abdomen with dorsal pairs of black dashes on each segment ; primaries below grey with darker white-bordered central belt ; costa cream-coloured between the markings ; a zigzag white-bordered subapical dusky stria; secondaries whitish with a broad irregular central belt formed by two blackish limiting lines and two grey intermediate lines; the outer black line distinctly undulated ; a very ill-defined blackish speckled submarginal band; body below testaceous. Expanse of wings 1 inch 3 lines. [4]

H. falcata is similar in appearance to its sister species H. megaspilata but is a slightly larger moth with its forewings having a less distinct hook shape. [7] The depth of colour of the forewings of this moth can vary from specimen to specimen. [2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] It can be found in the southern parts of the South island and occurs with its similar in appearance sister species H. megaspilata from Dunedin southwards. [7]

Behaviour

Homodotis falcata pair mating in October Homodotis falcata 1313679.jpg
Homodotis falcata pair mating in October

The larvae of this species feed on leaf litter. [8] Adults are on the wing most months of the year but more frequently from July to January. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Homodotis</i> Genus of moths

Homodotis is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae erected by Edward Meyrick in 1885. All the species in this genus are endemic to New Zealand.

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

Pasiphila acompsa is a moth in the family Geometridae. It was described by Louis Beethoven Prout in 1927. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in mountainous locations in both the North and South Islands. Larvae of this species have been reared on plants within the Veronica genus. Adults are on the wing from December to February.

<i>Pasiphila charybdis</i> Species of moth

Pasiphila charybdis is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<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>Homodotis megaspilata</i> Species of moth

Homodotis megaspilata, also known as the small hooked-tip looper moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. It is regarded as being common species. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest, scrub, coastal areas and domestic gardens. Larvae feed on the dead leaves of Geniostoma ligustrifolium and likely other native plants. Once mature the larvae will pupate on the ground forming a silken cocoon protected by hiding inside two leaves of its host plant. Adults are nocturnal and are on the wing from October to April. They are attracted to light. In appearance the adults of this species are extremely variable but can be distinguished from similar species as all variations have forewings with blunt hook shaped tips.

<i>Arctesthes catapyrrha</i> Species of moth

Arctesthes catapyrrha is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

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

Asaphodes aphelias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Fiordland. This species inhabits damp native scrub and has been observed in upland wetlands at altitudes of between 800 to 1100 m. Adults are on the wing in February but the female of this species is unusual as it has narrow fore and hind wings.

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

Asaphodes beata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is a relatively common species that can be found throughout the country in native forest or scrub habitat. It can be distinguished from its close relative Asaphodes adonis by the colour of its hind wings. The larvae of this species feeds on watercress but tends to be inactive during the day. If threatened it will mimic a twig dropping to the ground. The adult moths are on the wing from October to March and are said to be attracted to white rātā. The white markings on the forewing of the adults are variable in appearance.

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

Asaphodes camelias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and inhabits native forest. The adults of this species are on the wing from February to May and July to September.

<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>Asaphodes cosmodora</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes cosmodora is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. The adults of this species are on the wing in January and February.

<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 limonodes</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes limonodes is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits damp native forest. Adults are on the wing from November until March.

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

Asaphodes omichlias is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits rocky, open country in high mountains. Adults are on the wing in January and February. The appearance of the adult of this species is variable with some specimens having a paler and more grey appearance than the more usual brown appearance. Its colouration ensures it blends well with its preferred habitat rocky, open country in the high mountains.

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

Asaphodes oxyptera is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is only found in the Auckland Islands.

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

Asaphodes periphaea is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has only been collected in the mountains near Lake Wakatipu in the South Island. The male is fuscous coloured sprinkled with whitish colouration. The female is brachypterous. The preferred habitat of this species are alpine bluffs as well as mountainous open country. This species is on the wing from January to March.

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

Helastia semisignata is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is only found in the North Island. The life history of this species is in need of further investigation as sources differ about what plants host the larvae. Adults are on the wing commonly from October until March.

References

  1. 1 2 "Homodotis falcata (Butler, 1879)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 182. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  3. ↑ "Homodotis falcata (Butlera, 1879) - Biota of NZ". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  4. 1 2 Arthur Gardiner Butler (1879). "On a small collection of Heterocerous Lepidoptera, from New Zealand". Cistula entomologica. 2: 501. Wikidata   Q104215588.
  5. 1 2 George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, p. 113, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286
  6. ↑ Louis Beethoven Prout (15 August 1927). "Notes on New Zealand Geometridae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 77. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q110670763.
  7. 1 2 Robert J. B. Hoare (2014). A Photographic Guide to Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Illustrator: Olivier Jean-Philippe Ball. p. 97. ISBN   978-1-86966-399-5. Wikidata   Q59396160.
  8. ↑ "Homodotis falcata (Butler, 1879)". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  9. ↑ Brian H. Patrick (1997). "Codfish Island moths" (PDF). The Wētā. 20: 17–20. ISSN   0111-7696. Wikidata   Q110875754. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2008.
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