Ichneutica epiastra

Ichneutica epiastra
	Female
	Male
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Ichneutica
Species:	I. epiastra
Binomial name
	Ichneutica epiastra; (Meyrick, 1911)
Synonyms
	Leucania epiastraMeyrick, 1911 ; Dipaustica epiastra(Meyrick, 1911) ; Graphania epiastra(Meyrick, 1911) ;

Last updated September 01, 2024

Ichneutica epiastra is a moth of the family Noctuidae.^[1] It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species prefers open habitats such as wetlands, dunes and forest clearings. Eggs are laid in the summer or autumn and larvae feed during winter and spring. The larval host species are found within the genus Austroderia. The adult moths are on the wing between October and February. Adult I. epiastra can possibly be confused with the similar species I. arotis and I. haedifrontella however there are differences in appearance that enables I. epiastra to be distinguished from these two species. In particular I. epiastra has long sharp-tipped ‘horns' on its head that are diagnostic. The adults of this species appear reluctant to be attracted to light although they do come more frequently to the brighter mercury vapour traps.

Taxonomy

This moth was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 and named Leucania epiastra.^[3] The male lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[4] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale, in his catalogue on New Zealand lepidopera, placed this species within the Dipaustica genus.^[4] In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae species.^[2] During this review the genus Ichneutica was greatly expanded and the genus Dipaustica was subsumed into that genus as a synonym.^[2] As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica epiastra.^[2]

Description

George Hudson described the eggs of I. epiastra as follows:

The egg is spherical, flattened at the base, and rather coarsely ribbed, the ribs radiating from the micorpyle. The colour is at first a uniform pale yellow but after a few days the micropyle becomes dark brown and a dark brown circle appears round it.^[5]

Hudson went on to describe the larva of this species:

Illustration of I. epiastra larva by Hudson Fig 17 Plate I The butterflies & moths of NZ (cropped).jpg — Illustration of *I. epiastra* larva by Hudson

The full grown larva is 1+7⁄8 inch in length, dull brownish green in colour, sometimes tinged with reddish brown, especially on posterior segments. The dorsal and subdorsal lines are very narrow but fairly well marked; dull white in colour faintly edged with red or reddish brown. The lateral line is somewhat indistinct, white in colour. On it are situated the spiracles which are dull cream-colour edged in black. The lateral line is often edged with small brown blotches situated above the spiracles, and on the anterior segments these blotches are sometimes joined to form a broad, faintly marked upward edging to the lateral line. The integument, especially on the dorsal surface, has a number of fine white branching veins, and on each segment is a number of minute black dots from which spring short brown bristles. The prolegs are of the same colour as the body, edged with dark-brown hooks. The head is horny, amber in colour, mottled and netted with brown. ^[5]

Hudson goes on to state that the pupa appears light brown in colour initially and then turns a shiny very dark brown.^[5]

Meyrick first described the adults of this species as follows:

♂♀. 40-44 mm. Head and thorax light greyish-ochreous, thorax with two pairs of fine oblique black lines or series of specks, prothorax with strong triangular crest. Antennae in ♂ moderately fasciculate-ciliated. Abdomen pale greyish-ochreous with fine black specks, densely hairy towards base. Anterior tarsi with two apical joints black. Forewings light - brownish, with scattered black specks, towards base and costa suffused with light greyish-ochreous ; first line represented by two or three black dots, second line by a series on veins ; two white dots longitudinally placed about lower angle of cell, connected by grey suffusion ; a terminal series of black dots between veins : cilia light brownish-ochreous. Hindwings fuscous, paler and tinged with pale greyish-ochreous towards base ; cilia whitish-ochreous, tips whitish.^[3]

Hudson also described the adults of this species:

The expansion of the wings is 1+5⁄8 inches. The forewings are pale brown with a broad, cloudy longitudinal streak, containing two white dots near the middle of the wing; there are numerous minute black specks, especially on the central area; two black dots indicate the position of the first line and a curved row of similar dots marks the second line; there is also a series of terminal dot. The hindwings are dark, brownish-grey, with pale brown cilia tipped with white.^[5]

This species is variable in both colour and size.^[2] The colour of adults of this species can range from pale to pink ochreous up to a deep brown.^[2] The adult male wingspan is between 33 and 43 mm and the female wingspan is between 38 and 45 mm.^[2] There are specimens that have been collected at Ōkārito in Westland that are regarded as a dwarf form of I. epiastra as they are very similar both in appearance and in genitalia but are smaller than the typical I. epiastra.^[2] The dwarf Westland form male has a wingspan of between 32 and 33 mm and the female has a wingspan of 32 mm.^[2]I. epiastra can be confused with the similar species I. arotis and I. haedifrontella .^[2]I. epiastra has small projections on its head that are diagnostic though these are sometimes difficult to discern.^[2] In comparison to the other two species these tubercles are long and sharp tipped.^[2] A row of black dots can be seen on the forewing of I. epiastra where as I. arotis, has faint dashes, if any markings at all, on a similar part of its forewings.^[2]I. haedifrontella only has short and blunt tubercles on its head.^[2] This is the only visible feature that distinguishes I. haedifrontella from I. epiatra although male I. haedifrontella have distinctive genitalia that can be seen via dissection.^[2]

Distribution

I. epiastra is endemic to New Zealand.^[6] This species is found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands.^[2]

Habitat

This species lives in open habitats such as wetlands, dunes and forest clearings.^[2]

Life history and behaviour

Eggs of this species are laid in summer or autumn and larvae feed during winter and spring.^[5] The larvae feed at night.^[5] During the day larvae hide in the bases of the leaves of their host species.^[5] When ready to pupate the larva journeys to the flower stem of its host, eats into the internal part of the stem and makes a chamber at the joint.^[5] This is where the larva spends several weeks before pupating.^[5] In preparation, just prior to pupating the larva will create a hole at the top of the chamber leaving only a thin layer of plant material to cover the hole.^[5] After approximately six weeks the adult moth emerges - normally in the evening between 7pm and 9pm.^[5] Adults are on the wing between October and February.^[2] This species appears reluctantly attracted to light.^[2] It does however come more frequently to the brighter mercury vapour traps.^[2]

Host species

The plant host species for the larvae of I. epiastra are in the genus Austroderia .^[2]

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Ichneutica arotis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found throughout the North and South Islands but has yet to be recorded on Stewart Island. I. arotis is variable in appearance and have been described as having a "northern dark form", a "typical" form and a "swamp" form. Robert Hoare hypothesised that this species may be in the process of evolving into several distinct species. However, as these forms show no difference in antennae or genitalia so, as at 2019, they are not regarded as separate species. Larval hosts include species in the genera Cortaderia and Schoenus as well as Phormium tenax. The caterpillar feeds at night and rests in during the day amongst dead flax leaves. It pupates in a loose cocoon either hidden at the base of a stem of flax or on the ground. The adults of this species is on the wing from September to April. In the North Island there have also been records of adults being on the wing in June to August.

Ichneutica blenheimensis is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North, South and the Stewart Islands. This species appears to prefer drier eastern localities and is rarely collected in western North Island forested areas. It does not appear to be frequently collected in inland dry tussock grassland habitats. The host plant for the larvae of this species is likely to be the golden sand sedge pīngao which is now absent from the moths type locality. However Chappell has raised very young larvae on grass species and the more developed larvae consumed Phormium tenax. Adults are on the wing from November to March and are attracted to both light and sugar traps. The blackish forewing fringes are diagnostic of this species. But worn specimens of I. arotis can be confused with worn specimens of I. blenheimensis. However I. arotis can be distinguished from I. blenheimensis as it has a scale-tuft on the thorax and dark longitudinal stripes on the tegula. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Ichneutica sulcana, the dark underwing wainscot, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands at a range of altitudes from the lowlands to the alpine zone. This species prefers to live in native grass, shrub and wetland habitats as well as in native forest. The larval host plants of this species are forest grasses and sedges and larvae have been reared on Microlaena avenacea and species within the genus Carex. The larva pupates in the soil. Adults are on the wing from December to May but have also been recorded in August and September in the northern parts of the North Island. They are attracted to sugar traps as well as to light. I. sulcana and I. supersulcana are very similar in appearance but can be distinguished as there are differences in the male abdomen and genitalia of the two species. Also these two species do not appear to share a range as I. supersulcana seems to prefer to live at higher altitudes than I. sulcana. I. sulcana might also be confused with I. semivittata but I. sulcana is a larger species with a much darker abdomen and hindwing, and has only 1 to 3 dots on the forewing postmedian line.

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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.

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Austramathes fortis is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and the South Islands but has yet to be recorded at Stewart Island. It can be found in shrubland containing its host species at a range of altitudes from sea-level up to 1840 m. The larvae of this moth feed on several Melicytus species including M. crassifolius, M. alpinus, M. macrophyllus and M. novae-zelandiae. The larvae pupate in a cocoon of silk at the base of its host plant. It can take between 25 and 45 days before the adult moth emerges. Adults can be found on the wing during the months of July to March. The adults tend to be on the wing in twilight hours but have also been known to be active during the late afternoon. They are attracted to light but this behaviour may limit the number seen at light traps. The distinguishing feature of this moth is the curved black line at the base of its forewing. This species is unlikely to be confused with any other species in its range but it is very similar in appearance to A. squaliolus. However this latter species is only found on the Chatham Islands.

Ichneutica ceraunias is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found from the central North Island to the bottom of the South Island. Hosts of the larvae are species of Chionochloa and Festuca. This colourful moth is variable in appearance and can be mistaken for Ichneutica dione. Adults are on the wing from October to February.

Ichneutica fenwicki is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern parts of the South Island and on Stewart Island. It is a distinctively coloured moth that is unlikely to be confused with closely related species. It is a spring flying moth being on the wing from September to November. The life history and host species of the larvae of I. fenwicki are unknown.

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.

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.

Physetica homoscia is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout New Zealand including in the Auckland Islands. This species inhabits places where its host plants are common and this includes costal dune habitat. It lives at a wide range of altitudes from sea-level up to at least 1750 m. The larvae of P. homoscia feed on Ozothamnus leptophyllus and Ozothamnus vauvilliersii. They are very active and drop to the ground when disturbed. Larvae are parasitised by a species of fly. This species pupates in the soil and the pupa life stage lasts for approximately 6 weeks. The adult moths are on the wing from September to June and are attracted to light. The adults of P. homoscia might possibly be confused with Ichneutica moderata however this latter species lacks the small white dots on the forewing veins of P. homoscia. Adults might also be confused with P. temperata but P. homoscia is significantly larger in size.

References

1 2 "Ichneutica epiastra (Meyrick, 1911)". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 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.
1 2 Meyrick, Edward (1911). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 58–78 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
1 2 Dugdale, John Stewart (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Hudson, George V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. pp. 59–60.
↑ "Ichneutica epiastra (Meyrick, 1911)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

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[NZOR-1] 1 2 "Ichneutica epiastra (Meyrick, 1911)". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

[Hoare2021-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 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.

[Meyrick1911-3] 1 2 Meyrick, Edward (1911). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 58–78 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

[:0-4] 1 2 Dugdale, John Stewart (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

[Hudson-5] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Hudson, George V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. pp. 59–60.

[6] "Ichneutica epiastra (Meyrick, 1911)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

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