Ichneutica skelloni

Ichneutica skelloni
	Female
	Male
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Ichneutica
Species:	I. skelloni
Binomial name
	Ichneutica skelloni; (Butler, 1880)
Synonyms
	Hadena skelloniButler, 1880 ; Graphania skelloni(Butler, 1880) ; Melanchra beataHowes, 1906 ; Graphania beata(Howes, 1906) ;

Last updated November 23, 2023

Ichneutica skelloni is a moth of the family Noctuidae.^[1] 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.^[2]

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1880 and named Hadena skelloni.^[3] The holotype male specimen was collected in Marlborough by a Mr Skellon.^[2] Butler synonymised this name with Melanchra insignis in 1890 as he regarded it as a well marked variety of this species.^[4] George Howes in 1906, thinking he was describing a new species, named the species Melanchra beata.^[5] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale, in his catalogue of New Zealand Lepidoptera, also believed that Hadena skelloni was a synonym of Graphania insignis.^[6] In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae.^[2] During this review Hoare reinstated this species and placed it within the genus Ichneutica.^[2] He also synonymised Melanchra beata into this species.^[2] As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica skelloni.^[2]

Description

Butler originally described the species as follows:

Primaries above laky-brown; a broad longitudinal internal sap-green streak, through which the submedian vein passes, and which is interrupted near the base by an oblique B-shaped black patch; an oblique abbreviated black dash near the base of interno-median area ; discoidal and submedian spots bordered with pale green edged with black; discoidal area dark brown, "orbicular" spot of the same colour, slightly oblique and almost reniform ; "reniform" spot pale laky-brown with a curved blackish internal stripe; submedian spot obtusely hexagonal, laky-brown; the two central lines slender, black, opposed, dentate-sinuate, not distinctly traceable above the median vein; submedian line black, with white inner border bounded within by sap-green and dark brown spots or patches, irregularly dentated as in H. pisi ; the usual costal markings ; secondaries pinky-brown, with diffused dusky border, enclosing an ill-defined abbreviated sinuated whitish streak; abdominal border broadly fringed with pinky-whitish ; fringe of outer margin narrow, yellowish, tipped with dark brown, body rufous-brown, varied with pale greenish and whity-brown scales ; collar with the usual bisinuated blackish line; wings below pale sericeous pinky-brown, with blackish discocellular spots and a brown discal line; primaries with a pale submarginal line; secondaries with an indistinct greyish submarginal streak ; body below dull laky-brown, pectus slightly greyish, venter with a lateral black line. Expanse of wings 1 inch 6 lines.^[3]

This species as reinstated by Hoare is extremely variable in size, colour and patterns on the fore and hind wings, length of pectinations on male antennae and even genitalia.^[2] It encapsulates the larger more colourful patterned form of the species found in Westland and Fiordland, the medium-sized form found in Wellington down to Stewart Island and the smaller Dunedin and Southland form.^[2] Hoare argues that as a result of the variation of this species being continuous attempts to describe more than one species have failed.^[2]

The wingspan of male adults of this species range from 32 to 40 mm and for adult females from 36 to 44 mm.^[2] All forms of this species can be distinguished from I. insignis visually as the male I. skelloni have longer pectinations on their antennae, the black markings on the subdorsal portion of the forewings are shorter and broader in appearance and there are differences between the two species in the male genitalia.^[2] Some forms of I. skelloni might also be confused with I. scutata and I. pelanodes .^[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^[7] This species has been found and confirmed only in the Wellington region of the North Island but is widespread in the South Island.^[2] This species is also found on Stewart Island.^[2] George Hudson records it being present in Hastings but Hoare states that this requires further investigate.^[2]

Habitat

This species is found in forest and shrubland habitat.^[2]

Behaviour

This species are on the wing from July to April.^[2] The adult moths are attracted to light.^[2]

Life history and host species

Larvae from the smaller beata form from Dunedin and Southland have been raised from egg on herbaceous plants including species within the genera Plantago , Senecio and Ranunculus as well as the species Bellis perennis.^[2]

Related Research Articles

Ichneutica is a genus of cutworm or dart moths in the family Noctuidae. The genus is found in New Zealand and surrounding islands. There are more than 80 described species in Ichneutica, the largest known genus of Lepidoptera in New Zealand. In 2019 this genus was revised and greatly expanded with the genera Graphania Hampson, 1905, Tmetolophota Hampson, 1905 and Dipaustica Meyrick, 1912 all subsumed within it.

Ichneutica insignis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found throughout New Zealand, although it appears to be scarce in 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.

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 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.

Ichneutica morosa is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern parts of the North Island and throughout the South Island. I. morosa is common in the eastern parts of both those islands and also in Fiordland. I. morosa can be found from altitudes ranging from lowlands to the alpine zone. I. morosa is absent from the range of its closely related species I. mustulenta, that is from the northern North Island. The larvae of I. morosa are known to feed on Poa astonii and also on other Poa species including introduced species. As well as its standard form the adult moths have a grey colour morph with the head and thorax being a grey and mottled brown, and the forewing being a pale greyish ochreous to a deep brown, suffused with grey. I. morosa can be confused with I. mustulenta and I. lignana. Adults are on the wing from November to April.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

Ichneutica dione is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth species is closely related to I. ceraunias and is very similar in appearance to that species. However I. dione has a much more restrictive range, being found only in the alpine zone and hills of the South Island and is less commonly collected. Adults of the species are on the wing from December to February and although sometimes can be found flying during the day, they are more commonly seen at night.

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 brunneosa is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in the North Island from Mount Te Aroha and in the South Island from the Coromandel to Stewart Island. However it appears to not be present in the centre of the South Island. The distinctive colour and patterns on the forewing of this species ensures it is unlikely to be confused with similar species. It inhabits native forests with higher rainfall and is attracted to mercury vapour light traps. The life history of I. brunneosa is unknown as are the host species of its larvae but the adults of the species are on the wing from October to January.

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 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 virescens is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, and is found in the southern North Island and throughout the South Island. The species is found in alpine, sub-alpine, and down to sea-level in grassland habitats. Adults are on the wing from November through to April. The likely larval host may be grasses, but larvae have been reared on a range of plants. The adults are similar to I. panda, I. falsidica and I. nobilia, but is distinguished by size, wing colouration, and antennae formation.

Ichneutica sistens is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in the central North Island and throughout the South Island, although it is more common on the eastern side of that latter Island. It is very variable in both colour and size. I. sistens prefers open habitat such as tussock grasslands, dunes and braided rivers. Larval host species include grasses in the family Poaceae and include species in the genera Rytidosperma and Elymus, as well as Poa cita and Agrostis capillaris. Adults are on the wing from January to May and are attracted to light.

References

1 2 "Ichneutica skelloni (Butler, 1880)". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 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 Butler, Arthur Gardiner (1880). "On a collection of Lepidoptera Heterocera from Marlborough Province, New Zealand". Cistula Entomologica. 2: 541–562 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
↑ Butler, Arthur Gardiner (1890). "XX. Further notes on the synonymy of the genera of Noctuites". Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 38 (4): 653–691. doi:10.1111/J.1365-2311.1890.TB03033.X – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
↑ Howes, George (1906). "Some new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 38: 510–511 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
↑ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 203. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
↑ "Ichneutica skelloni (Butler, 1880)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-29.

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[NZOR-1] 1 2 "Ichneutica skelloni (Butler, 1880)". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-29.

[Hoare2019-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 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.

[Butler1880-3] 1 2 Butler, Arthur Gardiner (1880). "On a collection of Lepidoptera Heterocera from Marlborough Province, New Zealand". Cistula Entomologica. 2: 541–562 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

[4] Butler, Arthur Gardiner (1890). "XX. Further notes on the synonymy of the genera of Noctuites". Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 38 (4): 653–691. doi:10.1111/J.1365-2311.1890.TB03033.X – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

[5] Howes, George (1906). "Some new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 38: 510–511 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

[Dugdale1988-6] Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 203. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2018.

[7] "Ichneutica skelloni (Butler, 1880)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-29.

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