Ichneutica insignis

Ichneutica insignis
	Male
	Female
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Ichneutica
Species:	I. insignis
Binomial name
	Ichneutica insignis; (Walker, 1865)
Synonyms
	Euplexia insignisWalker, 1865 ; Xylina turbidaWalker, 1865 ; Mamestra angustaFelder & Rogenhofer, 1875 ; Mamestra polychroaMeyrick, 1887 ; Melanchra xanthogrammaMeyrick, 1912 ; Graphania insignis(Walker, 1865) ;

Last updated December 11, 2023

Ichneutica insignis is a moth of the family Noctuidae.^[1] It is endemic to and found throughout New Zealand,^[3] 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.

Taxonomy

This species was first scientifically described by Francis Walker in 1865 using a specimen collected by T. R. Oxley.^[4]^[5] Although the original scientific description states the specimen originated in Auckland, the correct type locality is in Nelson.^[4]^[2] Walker originally named the species Euplexia insignis.^[5] The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[2] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale, in his catalogue of New Zealand Lepidoptera, placed this species within the Graphania 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 Graphania was subsumed into that genus as a synonym.^[2] As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica insignis.^[2]

Description

George Hudson describes the eggs of this species as follows:

The egg is semi-globose, considerably flattened above and beneath. A number of branching ribs radiate from the micropyle, the spaces between them being slightly ribbed transversely. Its colour is pale green, becoming dark brown in the centre as the enclosed embryo develops.^[6]

Larvae start their lives coloured pale brown with numerous black warts emitting black bristles. After about twelve days the larvae turn a pale green and after moulting, lateral and subdorsal lines begin to appear.^[6]

Hudson describes the fully mature larva of this species is as follows:

A full grown larva is pale greenish-brown, inclining to yellow on the ventral surface. There lateral lines consist of a series of black markings near the posterior margin of each segment; the subdorsal lines are represented by four oblique black marks on each side of the four posterior segments of the larva. The region between these lines is much clouded with yellowish green or pink, the larva having a tendency to diverge into pink and green varieties. The anal segment is dull yellow. The head is brown, with two black stripes and several black dots.^[6]

Walker described the adults of this species as follows:

Male and female. Ferruginous-cinereous. Palpi stout, obliquely ascending, not rising so high as the vertex ; third joint conical, very minute, not more than one-eighth of the length of the second. Antennae of the male very slightly pectinated for full two-thirds of the length. Fore tegulae of the thorax with a black band, which is curved on each side. Abdomen brownish, extending somewhat beyond the hind wings, crested towards the base, reddish on each side and with a small reddish apical tuft in the male. Fore wings varied with glaucous-cinereous and with blackish, the former hue forming an irregular and interrupted submarginal band, which extends along the costa in three streaks to the exterior border ; some zigzag black lines ; orbicular and reniform marks of the usual shape ; the first bordered with pale cinereous ; the second wholly pale cinereous; fringe with pale cinereous longitudinal streaks. Hind wings brown. Length of the body 7 — 8 lines ; of the wings 18— 20 lines.^[5]

I. insignis is variable in appearance and as a result is difficult to distinguish from its close relatives I. skelloni and I. plena .^[2] The pectinations on the antennae of the male I. insignis are longer than those on I. skelloni.^[2] The dorsum of the forewings of some specimens of I. insignis often has a "distinct whitish suffusion" which is considered diagnostic.^[2] This feature is lacking in I. plena specimens and although a similar pale marking may also occur in I. skelloni specimens the colour is not whitish.^[2]

Distribution

This species can be found throughout New Zealand.^[2]

Habitat

Although this species can be found in a variety of habitats through out the country it is scarce or absent from inland sites of tussock grassland.^[2]

Behaviour

Adults of this species can be found on the wing throughout the year.^[2] The adults moths are attracted to light.^[7] The sex pheromones used by I. insignis consist of combinations of tetradecenyl and dodecenyl acetates or alcohols.^[8]

Life cycle and host species

The larvae of this species emerge from eggs after about two weeks.^[6] Larvae of I. insignis can feed on various plants but have been recorded as feeding on Trifolium pratense.^[2]^[9]

Related Research Articles

Ichneutica mutans, commonly known as the New Zealand cutworm or the grey-brown cutworm, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This moth endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout New Zealand, including from Three Kings Islands down to Stewart Island. However this species is not found in the Chatham Islands. The adult moths are on the wing all year round. I. mutans is variable in appearance and can be confused with similar species in the same genus. As a result of the variety of host species consumed by the larvae of the species, including such crops as turnips, wheat and apples, this species is regarded as an agricultural pest. However between the early 1960s and late 1980s the population of I. mutans was shown to have decreased significantly, by over 80%, at two study sites.

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.

Ichneutica ustistriga is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island. This species lives in a wide variety of habitats including domestic gardens, horticultural areas, orchards, native and exotic grasslands, as well as native forest. The larvae eat a variety of herbaceous plants. Recorded food plants include Muehlenbeckia australis, Muehlenbeckia complexa, Olearia hectorii, and Plantago lanceolata. This moth has a mauvish grey wing colour and is unlikely to be confused with other species as the patterns on its forewing are distinctive. This species is on the wing throughout the year and is attracted to both sugar and light traps. Adult moths can be found at rest on fences and tree trunks during the day.

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.

Ichneutica plena is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is widespread throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. It is a variable in appearance and therefore can be confused with its near relatives I. peridotea and I. insignis. The larvae of I. plena feed on herbaceous plants including Fuchsia excorticata, Coprosma species, and introduced species such as garden fuchsia as well as crops such as apple trees. Adults of this species are on the wing from late August until May.

Ichneutica maya is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the mountains in southern half of the North Island and in the South Island. I. maya is a distinctively coloured and patterned moth and as such is unlikely to be confused with similar species. I. maya can be found in the southern half of the North Island down through the South Island. This species can be found in alpine to subalpine zones with high rainfall but in Southland this species can be found down to sea level. This life history in the wild is unknown, nor has its larval host species been confirmed. Adults are on the wing from December to March and are attracted to sugar and light traps.

Ichneutica nullifera is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the Tongariro National Park, along the Wellington coast and throughout the South Island. The adults are large and the forewing of adults can vary in colour from pale fawn to dark grey. The larvae are coloured a bright yellow-brown with a paler underside. The larval host species are in the genus Aciphylla and as a result the adult moths are often found in habitat dominated by species in this genus. Adults are on the wing from November to early April and are sometimes attracted to light.

Ichneutica pagaia is a moth of the family Noctuidae. I. pagaia is endemic to New Zealand and can only be found on the Snares Islands. This species is unlikely to be confused with moths with a similar appearance as it is the only noctuid found in the Snares Islands. Its preferred habitat is tussock grasslands and the hosts for its larvae are likely Poa astonii and Poa tennantiana. Adults of this species are on the wing from November to February.

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.

Ichneutica rubescens is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found locally in the North Island but is widespread throughout the South Island and is present on both Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands. I. rubescens has a round or oval mark near the centre of the forewing that encloses a dot. This is diagnostic of this species. I. rubescens inhabits tussock grasslands, beech as well as podocarp forests. Larval hosts are likely herbaceous plants such as grasses and herbs and larvae have been reared on Gunnera prorepens. Adults of this species are on the wing from December to April and are attracted to light.

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.

Ichneutica atristriga is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found through out 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.

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.

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.

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.

Ichneutica moderata is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the Bay of Plenty south including the Chatham Islands. I. moderata inhabits open spaces in lowland to montane zones. Larvae likely feed on a variety of low growing herbaceous plants including on Raoulia species. Larvae create silk covered tunnels in the roots of their host plants. Pupa are enclosed in a loose silken cocoons and are sheltered amongst the host species roots. The adult moths are on the wing from October to April.

Ichneutica erebia is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found on Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands. Adults of this species are on the wing from August to January. The adults are variable in appearance but can be distinguished from similar species by the patters or lack thereof on their forewings. The larvae of I. erebia are polyphagous and hosts include Pleurophyllum criniferum, species within the genera Stilbocarpa and Carex, as well as Chionochloa antarctica, Urtica australis and Raukaua simplex.

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 skelloni is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. Its presence has been confirmed in the North Island only in the Wellington region but is widespread throughout the South Island. It is also found in Stewart Island. I. skelloni is extremely variable in size, in the colour and patterns on the fore and hind wings, length of pectinations on male antennae and even in its genitalia. A larger more patterned form can be found in Westland and Fiordland, a medium-sized form is found from Wellington to Stewart Island and there is also a smaller Dunedin and Southland form. This species can be confused with specimens with the species I. insignis, I. scutata and I. pelanodes. I. skelloni can be found in forest and shrubland habitat. Adults are on the wing from July to April and are attracted to light. Host plants for the larvae are found in the genera Plantago, Senecio and Ranunculus and also include the species Bellis perennis.

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 2 "Ichneutica insignis (Walker, 1865)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 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.
↑ "Ichneutica insignis (Walker, 1865)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
1 2 3 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 202. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
1 2 3 Walker, Francis (1865). "Part XXXIII: supplement, part 3". List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. 33: 724 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
1 2 3 4 Hudson, George Vernon (1928). The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.
↑ Patrrick, B. H.; Archibald, R. D. (January 1988). "Lepidoptera light-trapped at Owaka, South Otago". New Zealand Entomologist. 11 (1): 70–72. doi:10.1080/00779962.1988.9722541. ISSN 0077-9962.
↑ Frérot, B.; Dugdale, J. S.; Foster, S. P. (April 1993). "Chemotaxonomy of some species of moths in the New Zealand genus Graphania based on sex pheromones". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 20 (2): 71–80. doi:10.1080/03014223.1993.10422864. ISSN 0301-4223.
↑ "Graphania insignis (Walker1865)". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 2021-07-27.

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[NZOR-1] 1 2 "Ichneutica insignis (Walker, 1865)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-07-27.

[Hoare2019-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 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 insignis (Walker, 1865)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-27.

[Dugdale1988-4] 1 2 3 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 202. Retrieved 16 July 2021.

[Walker1865-5] 1 2 3 Walker, Francis (1865). "Part XXXIII: supplement, part 3". List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. 33: 724 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

[Hudson1928-6] 1 2 3 4 Hudson, George Vernon (1928). The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

[7] Patrrick, B. H.; Archibald, R. D. (January 1988). "Lepidoptera light-trapped at Owaka, South Otago". New Zealand Entomologist. 11 (1): 70–72. doi:10.1080/00779962.1988.9722541. ISSN 0077-9962.

[8] Frérot, B.; Dugdale, J. S.; Foster, S. P. (April 1993). "Chemotaxonomy of some species of moths in the New Zealand genus Graphania based on sex pheromones". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 20 (2): 71–80. doi:10.1080/03014223.1993.10422864. ISSN 0301-4223.

[9] "Graphania insignis (Walker1865)". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 2021-07-27.

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