Ichneutica barbara

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Ichneutica barbara
Ichneutica barbara.jpg
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. barbara
Binomial name
Ichneutica barbara
Hoare, 2019 [1]

Ichneutica barbara is a moth of the family Noctuidae. [1] This species is endemic to New Zealand and is only found in the South Island, more commonly on the eastern side of the South Island. This species has a grey forewing and is visually very similar in appearance to its close relative I. omicron. However the adult male of I. barbara has a yellow anal tuft in comparison to the grey tuft of I. omicron. In collections I. barbara has sometimes been confused with I. sistens . I. barbara appears to inhabit shrubland localities. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of the larvae but adults are on the wing from October to December.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Robert Hoare in 2019 and named Ichneutica barbara in honour of New Zealand ecologist Dr Barbara Anderson. [2] The holotype is a male specimen collected by Brian Patrick at Portobello in Dunedin in October and held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. [2]

Description

The adult of this species has a grey forewing and is almost indistinguishable visually from its sister species I. omicron. [2] The only visual difference is in the males of those specie with I. barbara having a yellowish anal tuft where as the male of the I. omicron has a grey anal tuft. [2] However with I. omicron appearing to only be present in the North Island and I. barbara only present in the South Island it is unlikely these two will be confused in the wild. [2]

The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 32 and 37 mm and the female has a wingspan of between 33 and 36 mm. [2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in the South Island mainly in the eastern side of that island. [3]

Habitat

This species is thought to possibly to inhabit shrubland localities. [2]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing between October and December. [2]

Life history and host species

The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

Ichneutica lithias is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is a small moth but distinctive as a result of the markings on its forewings. Although this species is widespread in the South Island, it has only been collected in the Rangipo Desert in the North Island. The species prefers habitat that is scrubland ranging in altitude from coastal to alpine. Adults are on the wing from October to April and larvae have been collected and reared on the New Zealand endemic plant species Melicytus alpinus.

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

Ichneutica omicron is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found only in the middle and lower parts of the North Island. It is very similar in appearance to its sister species Ichneutica barbara. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of the larvae. The adults are on the wing in November and December. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

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

Ichneutica pelanodes is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in scattered locations in the North, South and Stewart Islands. I. pelanodes is easily confused with I. skelloni as the two species are visually extremely similar. In the North Island though the range of the two species appears not to overlap. Generally of the two species I. pelanodes tends to be darker in appearance. I. pelanodes inhabits wetlands but the life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. Adults are on the wing from October to February and are attracted both to sugar and light traps.

<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 sericata</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica sericata is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is variable and difficult to distinguish from I. skelloni specimens. It is known from the southern part of the South Island and from Stewart Island. There has been one specimen collected in Taranaki but although Robert Hoare determined the species, he expressed reservations given the location of collection. I. sercata inhabits shrubland at altitudes of between 470 and 900m. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. The adults of this species are on the wing in August at Stewart Island and in November and December in the South Island.

<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 hartii</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica hartii is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found only in the North Island. I. hartii is similar in appearance to Ichneutica agrorastis but can be distinguished as it tends to be smaller in size and have a more purplish shade to its fore wings. I. hartii tends to be found inhabiting lowland native forest or forests found in the hilly ranges of the North Island. It is attracted to light and the adults of this moth are on the wing between January and March. Much of its life history is currently unknown as are the larvae host species.

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

Ichneutica stulta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has only been collected from West Plains and Tuturau in Southland but, as at 2021, no male species appears to exist in collections. I. stulta can resemble I. acontistis but can be distinguished as I. stulta has a strongly curved forewing edge as well as having a discal spot on the underside of the hindwing. I. stulta is also darker than specimens of I. acontistis obtained in the southern parts of the South Island. I. stulta is also very similar in appearance to I. emmersonorum but the later species has darker forewings and is more strongly marked on the thorax. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of the larvae but the adults have been recorded as being on the wing from October to December.

<i>Ichneutica steropastis</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Ichneutica steropastis, or the flax notcher moth, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island as well as in the Chatham Islands. The larvae of this species feed on a variety of native and introduced plants however the New Zealand flax is one of the more well known host plants for the larvae of this moth. The larvae are nocturnal, hiding away in the base of the plants and coming out to feed at night. They create a distinctive notch in the leaf when they feed. The adults of this species are on the wing from October to March. Although adult specimens of I. steropastis are relatively easy to recognise they might possibly be confused with I. inscripta, I. theobroma or with darker forms of I. arotis. However I. steropastis can be distinguished as it has a long dark basal forewing streak that these three species lack.

<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 agorastis</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica agorastis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is similar in appearance to two other species in the genus but can be distinguished through the colour and size of its forewings. This species is found in the South Island and Stewart Island in open habitats in the subalpine zone. However, in Southland I. agorastis can be found down to sea-level. Adult moths are on the wing between January and April. The life history and host species are unknown.

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

Ichneutica cuneata is a moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. I. cuneata is found in and around the Tongariro National Park in the North Island and throughout the South Island. Specimens found in Tongariro National Park tend to be darker in appearance than South Island specimens but as their colour is variable, and antennae and genitalia of both species are consistent, they are not now regarded as a separate species. I. cuneata inhabits tussock grasslands and shrublands in alpine and subalpine zones. The adults are on the wing from December to April and can be found flying during the day. The life history of I. cuneata is unknown as are the specific host species of its larvae. However larvae of I. cuneata are said to feed on herbaceous plants. The adults of this species also pollinate native species such as Myosotis macrantha.

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

Ichneutica chlorodonta, also known as the Green-toothed Owlet, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands and is associated with native forest and shrubland. It can be confused with similar looking species such as I. subcyprea however I. chlorodonta can be distinguished through differences in colouration of its fore and hind wings as well as the length of the male pectinations. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae but adults of I. chlorodonta are on the wing from September to April.

Ichneutica naufraga is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is only found on Big South Cape Island. The host of I. naufraga larvae is Poa foliosa, upon which the larvae feed at night. Adult moths have been recorded on the wing in November. This species can be distinguished from the visually similar I. mutans as both the male and female of the former species lack the distinctive dark marking that can be found on the forewings of I. mutans. The female I. naufraga is coloured a brown shade as opposed to the grey I. mutans and the male I. naufraga has longer antenna pectinations.

Ichneutica cornuta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is only found in the South Island, in and around the Southern Alps. I. cornuta is very similar in appearance to pale forms of I. arotis. It is easy to confuse the two species as their ranges overlap. Male I. cornuta can be distinguished as it has longer pectinations on the antennae and the female lacks the dark scaling that can be found on the thorax of the I. arotis. There are also subtle differences in the forewing patterns of the two species. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. Adults are on the wing from January to April.

Ichneutica sapiens is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. I. sapiens is found in the central North Island, in the South Island in Westland and also the southern parts of the South Island, and in Stewart Island. This species inhabits wetland habitat but its life history is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. The adult moths are on the wing between December and early January and are attracted to sugar traps and to light. I. sapiens is very similar in appearance to I. micrastra but is a smaller moth with a shorter wingspan, has differently formed antennae and slightly different forewing markings.

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

Ichneutica paracausta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found locally in the central North Island, is widespread in the South Island and can also be found in Stewart Island. I. paracausta is variable in colour, but as it has a distinctive black streak on its forewing as well as a wing pattern that is characteristic, I. paracausta is unlikely to be confused with other species. It is present on the North Island volcanic plateau as well as Little Bush Reserve in Hawkes Bay in the North Island as well as in tussock grassland, alpine and subalpine shrubland and in alpine forest. Larvae have been recorded as feeding on grasses, a pupa has been found in a cocoon under the bark of a tree and adult moths are on the wing from October to January.

<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 barbara Hoare, 2019". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hoare, Robert J. B. (9 December 2019). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 2: Nivetica, Ichneutica". Fauna of New Zealand. 80: 1–455. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.80.
  3. "Ichneutica barbara Hoare, 2019". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-29.