Ichneutica atristriga

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Ichneutica atristriga
Tmetolophota atristriga female.jpg
Female
Tmetolophota atristriga male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Ichneutica
Species:
I. atristriga
Binomial name
Ichneutica atristriga
(Walker, 1865) [1]
Synonyms
  • Xylina atristrigaWalker, 1865
  • Graphania atristriga(Walker, 1865)
  • Persectania atristriga(Walker, 1865)
  • Mamestra antipodaFelder & Rogenhofer, 1874
  • Leucania astristriga(Walker, 1865)
  • Tmetolophota atristriga(Walker, 1865)

Ichneutica atristriga is a moth of the family Noctuidae. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. The larval hosts likely include tussock grasses included Poa cita , P. colensoi and Festuca novae-zelandiae . Larvae have been reared on species in the genera Bromus and Festuca. The adults of this species are on the wing from November to May. I. atristriga can possibly be confused with the smaller species I. propria. However I. atristriga has thorax and forewings that have a pinkish tinge and I. propria has a dark streak on the discal part of the forewing which I. atristriga lacks. A study has indicated that the population numbers of this species have decreased.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was described by Francis Walker in 1865 from specimens collected in Nelson and named Xylina atristriga. [2] [3] The male lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [3] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale, in his catalogue of New Zealand Lepidoptera, placed this species within the Tmetolophota genus. [3] In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae. [4] During this review the genus Ichneutica was greatly expanded and the genus Tmetolophota was subsumed into that genus as a synonym. [4] As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica atristriga. [4]

Description

Hoare described the larvae of this species as follows:

a pallid larva with the head capsule pale brown, broadly darker in a central stripe and laterally, prothorax tinged yellowish brown, a distinct dark-edged greyish mid-dorsal stripe, becoming poorly defined on the thorax, a dark subdorsal stripe on each side, thicker towards the anterior end of each segment and edged whitish below (only the whitish edging distinct on the thorax), and a greyish lateral stripe, again more poorly defined on the thorax. [4]

Observation of a live specimen of Ichneutica atristriga Ichneutica atristriga 58563193.jpg
Observation of a live specimen of Ichneutica atristriga

Walker described the adults of this species as follows:

Male. Ferruginous-red. Palpi very slightly ascending, extending a little beyond the bead ; second joint fringed beneath ; third elongate-conical, full one-fourth of the length of the second. Antennae setose. Fore tegulae of the thorax with a slender dark cinereous-bordered band. Abdomen cinereous, with a tinge of fawn-colour, extending a little beyond the hind wings. Fore wings with a hoary irregular costal stripe, which extends from the base to five-sixths of the length, and partly contains the incompletely ferruginous-bordered orbicular and reniform marks ; a black streak proceeding from the base and ending behind the inner end of the orbicular mark, which is not oblique; a row of blackish points on the veins at half the distance between the reniform mark and the exterior border, which is slightly oblique. Hind wings aeneous; fringe paler, edged with whitish. Length of the body 9 lines; of the wings 22 lines. [2]

The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 35 and 42 mm and the female has a wingspan of between 35 and 41 mm. [4] I. atristriga can possibly be confused with the smaller species I. propria. [4] However I. atristriga has thorax and forewings that have a pinkish tinge and I. propria has a dark streak on the discal part of the forewing which I. atristriga lacks. [4]

Distribution

It is endemic to New Zealand. [5] I. atristriga is found through out the North, South and Stewart Islands. [4]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing from November to May. [4]

Life history and host species

Poa cita, a larval host of I. atristriga Poa cita cita Edgar (AM AK302458).jpg
Poa cita, a larval host of I. atristriga

The life history of this species is in need of more detailed documentation. [4] The larval hosts likely include tussock grasses included Poa cita , P. colensoi and Festuca novae-zelandiae . [4] Larvae have been reared on species in the genera Bromus and Festuca . [4]

Conservation status

This species is regarded as being one of the most numerous noctuid species. [4] However Graham White recorded a population decrease of over 40% at two locations during the period from the early 1960s until the late 1980s. [6]

Related Research Articles

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

Ichneutica lignana is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found on the Three Kings Islands as well as the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species lives in a variety of habitats including coastal areas, tussock grasslands, shrublands, and native forest, at a range of altitudes from sea level to over 1300 m. I. lignana is quite distinctive in appearance with its dark markings on the abdomen and forewings although it is possible to confuse Ichneutica morosa, Meterana pansicolor and Meterana pascoi with this species. Adults are on the wing throughout the year in the northern parts of the New Zealand but are restricted to the months of October to April in the more southern parts of the country.

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

Ichneutica insignis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to and found throughout New Zealand, although it appears to be scarce at inland sites of tussock grasslands. The adults are on the wing throughout the year. It is a variable species and as such can be easily confused with I. skelloni and I. plena. The larvae of this species have been recorded as feeding on Trifolium pratense.

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

Ichneutica semivittata is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found from the Three King Islands down to Stewart Island. The similar species I. sulcana can be distinguished from I. semivittata as the former is much larger, has a darker hindwing and abdomen and has only one to three spots located behind the middle of the forewing in comparison to the 8 or 9 of I. semivittata. This species lives in a variety of habitats from open grasslands to clearings in forest and at a range of altitudes from the sea level to the alpine zone. Larval host species include Juncus procera, Carex secta as well as on tussock grasses such as Poa cita, P. colensoi and Festuca novae-zelandiae. Adults of this species are on the wing from August to April and are attracted to light.

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

Ichneutica olivea is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the central North Island down to the central South Island. It is very similar in appearance to I. lindsayorum but has a shorter basal streak and has white scaling from the subterminal line on the forewings that I. lindsayorum lacks This species prefers shrubland habitat. The life history of I. olivea is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. The adults are on the wing from December to March and are attracted to light.

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

Ichneutica omoplaca is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is widespread from the Bay of Plenty in the North Island down to Southland in the South Island. Specimens have also been collected from the Auckland Islands. It lives in a variety of habitats including beech forest clearings and tussock grasslands. This species has been recorded that some of the larval hosts of this species include Poa cita, Dactylis glomerata and it has been reared on Plantago lanceolata. The larva is undescribed but pupae have been found in a pine plantation in soil under weeds. Adults of this species are on the wing from October to March. The adult moths are variable in appearance but the diagnostic feature is the pale ochreous to white colouring between the basal streak and the costa which contrasts with the ground colour of the forewing.

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

Ichneutica petrograpta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand where it is found in the southwest districts of the South Island, including Westland, Otago Lakes and Fiordland. It is very similar in appearance to I. mutans. It inhabits tussock and shrubland in the alpine to subalpine zones. Adults of I. petrograpta are on the wing from December to February and are attracted to sugar traps. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae.

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

Ichneutica oliveri is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, found only in the South Island. However it has not been observed on the eastern side of that island from mid-Canterbury southwards to Southland. This species is distinctive and is unlikely to be confused with other closely related species. It inhabits tussock grasslands, shrubland as well as granite sand plains, all in the alpine zone. Adults are on the wing from December to March and are attracted to light. They have been observed feeding on the flowers of Hebe species. The life history of this species is unknown as are the larval hosts.

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

Ichneutica scutata is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found in the southern parts of the North Island as well as the eastern parts of the South Island. It is similar in appearance to I. insignis and I. skelloni but can be distinguished as I. scutata is much paler in appearance. It is likely this species inhabits lowland tussock grasslands as well as coastal dunes although it is not common in inland tussock grasslands. The larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants such as Plantago and Convolvulus species, Plagianthus divaricatus. It pupates on soil near its host plants. The adults are on the wing from late March to July.

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

Ichneutica acontistis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in the South Island, mainly on the eastern side although not in the Nelson district. This species is similar in appearance to I. paraxysta,I. stulta and I. toroneura. I. acontistis is unlikely to be confused with I. paraxysta as the later is only found in the North Island. I. acontistis can be distinguished from I. stulta as the latter species has a strongly curved forewing edge where as I. acontistis' is straight. I. acontistis can be distinguished from I. toroneura as the former has a dark stroke of colour starting from the base of the forewing that I. toroneura lacks. I. acontistis inhabits tussock grasslands and the larvae of this species feed on species of grass found in the genera Poa, Elymus and Rytidosperma. It pupates under rocks and adults are on the wing from September to January. I. acontistis are attracted to light.

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

Ichneutica alopa is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the central and southern parts of the North Island as well as in the South Island. It inhabits tussock grasslands and wetlands and can occur at ranges from the alpine zone down to almost sea-level. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae in the wild. Larvae of this species have been raised in captivity on Sphagnum moss as well as on species in the genus Raoulia. Adults of this species are on the wing from late January to April and are attracted to light and to sugar traps. I. alope can be confused with I. agorastis, I. micrastra or I. sapiens but the latter three species can be distinguished externally from I. alope through differences in size, forewing pattern and the antennae of the male of the species.

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

Ichneutica phaula is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found only in the South Island in the Nelson district, the eastern side of the South Island and Stewart Island. I. phaula inhabits tussock grasslands and coastal sand dunes. Host species include Ficinia spiralis, Ammophila arenaria, Poa cita and other "tussock grasses". The adults of this species are on the wing from October to December and are attracted to sugar traps. I. phaula is similar in appearance to both I. micastra, with whom it does not share a range, and I. sapiens which differs from I. phaula as I. sapiens is darker and has a more reddish tinge.

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

Ichneutica propria is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is only known from Tongariro National Park and Pureora Forest in the North Island but is widespread in the South Island. I. propria might be confused with faded I. atristriga, however the later species lacks the distinctive marking on the prothorax nor does it have the black mark running through the middle of the forewing. It is very common and widespread in montane to alpine grassland areas. Although the larvae have yet to be described, they have been reared on Poa cita and Festuca novae-zelandiae and are known to feed on introduced grass species. The adults of this species are on the wing from December to mid May and are attracted to light.

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

Ichneutica similis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found only in certain parts of the North Island, in the western side of the South Island and on Stewart Island. It inhabits peatlands as well as inland and coastal wetlands. The life history of this species is unknown and the host species of its larvae has yet to be confirmed. It has been hypothesised that larval host species might be within the Empodisma genus as well as possibly the species Apodasmia similis.

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

Ichneutica averilla is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in the North Island at Mount Taranaki but is widespread throughout the South Island and Stewart Island. It prefers mountainous habitat but can be found down to sea level in the southern parts of the South Island. Adults of the species are on the wing between November and March. Larvae likely exist on a variety of herbaceous plants but have been recorded as feeding on species within the genus Plantago. This species is sometimes confused with I. mutas but can be distinguished from the latter on the basis of forewing colour as well as the absence of or an indistinct antemedian forewing line.

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

Ichneutica toroneura is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is similar to I. unica but can be distinguished from that species by the uniform black vein markings on the forewings of I. toroneura. It is also similar in appearance to I. acontistis but the base of the forewings of I. toroneura lack the dark stripe that can be found on the forewings of I. acontistis. The males of I. toroneura have longer pectinations on their antennae. I. toroneura is found in the centre of southern South Island in the tussock grasslands of Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin. Larvae feed on tussock grasses Poa cita and Festuca novae-zelandiae. Adults are on the wing from November to January.

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

Ichneutica paraxysta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is very similar in appearance to its close relative I. acontistis but as the range of the two species do not overlap this is unlikely to cause confusion. I. paraxysta is only found in the North Island at the subalpine zones in the Mount Taranaki region and at Mount Ruapehu. It prefers tussock grassland and shrubland habitat. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae however it has been hypothesised that the larval host plants are species in the genera of Poa and Festuca.

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

Ichneutica panda is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and only found in central and southern parts of the South Island. The species has not been collected in Canterbury since the late 1950s and has not been seen at The Wilderness scientific reserve since 1941. This species is similar in appearance to Ichneutica falsidica however I. panda lack or have indistinct black dashes on their edge of their hindwings. I. panda inhabit shrubland from alpine zones down to river terraces and adults are on the wing between December and February. The life history of this species is unknown as is the host species of the larvae.

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

Ichneutica marmorata is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North Island at the Tongariro National Park and at Puketitiri near the Kaweka Range. In the South Island it is widespread. It prefers alpine to subalpine habitat but occurs down to sea level altitudes in more southern locations. Adults are on the wing from late October to February. Larvae of this species may use tussock grasses in the genus Chionochloa as their host and they have been reared on Festuca novae-zelandiae.

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

Ichneutica disjungens is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on the central volcanic plateau of the North Island and in the eastern as well as the south western parts of the South Island. I. disjungens inhabits tussock grasslands in the alpine and subalpine zones. The hosts of the larvae of this species include Poa cita, P. colensoi, and Festuca novae-zelandiae. The adults of this species are distinctive and are unlikely to be confused with other species. They are on the wing between October and March.

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

Ichneutica infensa is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found throughout the North and South Islands but appears to be rarely seen or collected in the north and west parts of the North Island. As at 2019 the northern limit to the range of this species is Titirangi. I. infensa inhabits tussock grasslands and native forest. Larvae are nocturnal and its host plants are in the genus Carex including Carex solandri. Larvae have also been raised on Bromus catharticus. Adults of this species are on the wing from late October to February. Adults are narrow winged with patterns on the forewings that are relatively distinctive. However this species can possibly be confused with I. inscripta.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ichneutica atristriga (Walker, 1865)". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  2. 1 2 Walker, Francis (1865). "XXXIII: Supplement. - Part 3". List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. pt. 33-34: 707–1120 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. 1 2 3 Dugdale, John S. (1988-09-23). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2020-06-27 via Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Hoare, Robert J. B. (2019-12-09). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 2: Nivetica, Ichneutica". Fauna of New Zealand. 80: 1–455. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.80.
  5. "Ichneutica atristriga (Walker, 1865)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  6. White, Graeme (1991). "The Changing Abundance of Moths in a Tussock Grassland, 1962- 1989, and 50-Year to 70-Year Trends". New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 15 (1): 5–22.