Ichneutica paraxysta

Last updated

Ichneutica paraxysta
Tmetolophota paraxysta female.jpg
Female
Tmetolophota paraxysta male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Ichneutica
Species:
I. paraxysta
Binomial name
Ichneutica paraxysta
(Meyrick, 1929) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Leucania paraxystaMeyrick, 1929
  • Tmetolophota paraxysta(Meyrick, 1929)

Ichneutica paraxysta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. [1] 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1929 from specimens collected around Waiouru by George Hudson and named Leucania paraxysta. [3] The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. In 1971 John S. Dugdale transferred all the New Zealand species in the genus Leucania to the genus Tmetolophota. [4] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale, in his catalogue of New Zealand Lepidoptera, confirmed this placement. [5] 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 Tmetolophota was subsumed into that genus as a synonym. [2] As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica paraxysta. [2]

Description

Meyrick described this species as follows:

♂ ♀. 36–37 mm. Head, palpi brown. Antennae ♂ dentate, moderately fasciculate-ciliated. Thorax whitish-ochreous, suffused brown anteriorly, with a bent anterior white bar edged dark fuscous in front. Forewings elongate-triangular, termen obliquely rounded; pale ochreous; veins finely brownish, posteriorly more or less sprinkled dark fuscous or blackish; slender whitish streaks along upper and lower margins of cell; a fine brownish streak above lower of these from before middle of wing expanded to fill space between veins 4 and 5 to termen; in ♂ wedge-shaped brownish spots resting on termen between veins 5–8, in ♂ more faintly indicated; a narrow brownish streak between veins 3 and 4 from near origin to termen, some whitish suffusion before base of this; a narrow reddish-brown streak somewhat sprinkled dark fuscous along fold from base to middle, continued by broader but lighter brownish suffusion above fold to termen; no black dots; cilia pale ochreous, ♀ tinged brownish. Hindwings rather dark grey; cilia ochreous-grey-whitish. [3]

The wingspan of the adult male of the species is between 34 and 38 mm and for the female is between 34 and 38 mm. [2] I. paraxysta is a pale, medium-sized moth. [6] Its hindwings are slightly darker than its forewings, and veins on the latter are clearly defined. [6] This species is very similar in appearance to I. acontistis , however this is unlikely to be confusion between these species as I. acontistis is only found in the South Island.

Distribution

Mount Taranaki, habitat of I. paraxysta Mount Taranaki, New Zealand (05) - Northern Road to the top.JPG
Mount Taranaki, habitat of I. paraxysta

I. paraxysta is endemic to New Zealand. [7] It is found in the North Island only, in the Mount Taranaki region and at Mount Ruapehu. [2]

Habitat

This species is found at subalpine altitudes in native tussock grasslands and shrubland. [2]

Behaviour

Adults of this species is on the wing from November to January. [2]

Life history and host species

The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. Hoare hypothesised that as a result of its similarity to I. acontistis the larval host species are likely to be species in the genera Poa and Festuca. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

Ichneutica lissoxyla is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the central and southern parts of the North Island and in most parts of the South Island. The species prefers snowgrass habitat in the alpine zone. I. lissoxyla is similar in appearance to I. paraxysta but can be distinguished as I. lissoxyla lack the black streaks on the forewings that can be found on the latter species and the male I. lissoxyla also has longer pectinations on antennae. 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 and are attracted to the light.

<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 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 arotis</i> Species of moth

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.

<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 micrastra</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica micrastra is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been found only in the North Island and has been collected in the Northland, Auckland, Whanganui and Wellington regions. The preferred habitat of this species is wetlands and heathlands including gum fields in Northland. Adults of this species are on the wing from October to December. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae however it has been hypothesised that the likely larval host is a grass or grass like plant. This species is very similar in appearance to I. phaula and I. sapiens but can be distinguished as a result of differences in male antennae, the shape, colour and size of forewings, the range of the species as well as differences in genital shape.

<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 unica</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica unica is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the centre of the North Island and throughout the South Island. This moth is very similar in appearance to its close relatives Ichneutica phaula and Ichneutica toroneura. I. phaula can be distinguished as there is a difference in pectinations on the male antennae and I. toroneura can be distinguished as the black vein markings on the forewings is more uniform for that species in comparison to I. unica. I. unica is variable in appearance with the North Island specimens having a darker brown colour on the forewings and having a darker underside of the hindwings. This species inhabits open tussock grassland at various altitudes, coastal dunes, and inland volcanic dunes. Larvae feed on tussock grasses such as Chionochloa pallens and species in the genus Poa. Adult moths are on the wing from November to February and are attracted to both sugar and light traps.

<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 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 epiastra</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica epiastra is a moth of the family Noctuidae. 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 to 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.

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

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.

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

Ichneutica falsidica is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is widespread in the South Island but can only be found in the Tararua Range and Mount Taranaki in the North Island. This species is similar looking to I. panda but I. falsidica has dark dashes on their hind-wings. This species can be found open high country and has been seen flying during the day in sunny warm weather. At night adults are attracted to light. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of the larvae.

<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, Festuca novae-zelandiae and Dracophyllum acerosum. 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 bromias</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica bromias is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to the Chatham Islands of New Zealand where is found on the Chatham, Pitt and Rangatira Islands. This species is similar in appearance to Ichneutica mutans but is darker and duller in its overall appearance. However, as I. mutans is not present in the Chathams this similarity is unlikely to cause confusion. The adults of the species are on the wing from November to March. The life history and the larval host species are unknown.

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

Ichneutica sollennis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species is known from the eastern and central areas of the southern South Island. It inhabits alpine zones and has been collected in tussock grasslands. The life history of this species is unknown. Although the host species is currently unknown it has been hypothesised that this species have grass or grass like plants as host plants. Adults are on the wing from November to February and are attracted to light.

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 to 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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ichneutica paraxysta (Meyrick, 1929)". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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.
  3. 1 2 Meyrick, Edward (November 1929). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 30: 483–490 via National Library of New Zealand.
  4. Dugdale, J.S. (1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae" (PDF). Pacific Insects Monograph. 27: 55–172.
  5. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–269. ISBN   978-0477025188. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Moth, Tortricine leafrollers". Puke Ariki Museum Libraries Tourist Information Taranaki New Zealand. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  7. "Ichneutica paraxysta (Meyrick, 1929)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)