Lycaena boldenarum

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Lycaena boldenarum
LycaenaBoldenarumMUpUnAC1.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Lycaena
Species:
L. boldenarum
Binomial name
Lycaena boldenarum
(White, 1862) [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Boldenaria boldenarum(White, 1862)
  • Chrysophanus boldenarum caeruleaSalmon, 1946
  • Chrysophanus boldenarum ianthinaSalmon, 1946
Lycaena boldenarum, boulder copper Lycaena boldenarum 30355660.jpg
Lycaena boldenarum, boulder copper
Lycaena boldenarum, boulder copper Lycaena boldenarum 1192571.jpg
Lycaena boldenarum, boulder copper

Lycaena boldenarum, the boulder copper, [2] is a species of butterfly which is endemic to New Zealand, it is found on both North Island and South Island in a wide variety of open habitats including grassland, shingle and sand dunes. They are normally only active in bright sunny conditions and their flight is usually low to the ground. [2] The boldenarum part of the species name given by the Scottish entomologist Adam White in honour of his first wife, Helen and her sister Frances, whose maiden name was Bolden. [3] It shares the Maori name pepe para riki with two congeners the common copper ( Lycaena salustius ) and the glade copper ( Lycaena feredayi ). [4]

Contents

Description

The wingspan is 17–27 mm and this is the second smallest species of butterfly found in New Zealand, the southern blue ( Zizina otis oxleyi) being the smallest. [5] The underside of the hindwings of Lycaena boldenarum vary in their markings, with some being pale and faintly patterned while others may be boldly marked with blackish marbling on a grey background. [2] In the males the upperwings have a purple sheen but the females show a more usual pattern for Lycaena butterflies. [6]

Distribution

Endemic to New Zealand, it is widespread on the South Island but on the North Island it is restricted to the Wairarapa, Central Plateau and Hawkes Bay areas. [7]

Habitat

Lycaena boldenarum is found in a wide variety of open habitats including grassland, shingle, sand dunes and braided rivers. [8] Its common name does not refer to boulders but is derived from the scientific name which refers to Helen Bolden, the maiden name of the first wife of Adam White the naturalist who named this species, and that of her sister, Frances. [3]

Biology

The larvae feed on Muehlenbeckia axillaris [9] but Rumex flexousus has also been recorded as a food plant, and it is possible that other Muehlenbeckia species are also used. The single egg is laid either on a stem or on the underside of leaves. The caterpillar varies in colour and may be olive green, yellowish green, pink or reddish brown, but there is always a diamond-shaped mark on the prothorax. It overwinters when half grown and in the spring it resumes feeding, hiding beneath small stones when inactive. The larvae are often found in association with Monomorium ants but a symbiotic link or dependency has not been demonstrated. The pupae are either light brown or reddish, but both forms show an abdomen speckled with black. The pupa is secured to a dead leaf on the ground by a cremaster and a few loose strands of silk. [8]

Subspecies

Conservation status of Lycaena boldenarum ianthina

Hoare et al. classified Lycaena ianthina as being Nationally Critical under the New Zealand Threat Classification system. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-shot copper</span> Species of butterfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarce copper</span> Species of butterfly

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<i>Muehlenbeckia complexa</i> Species of flowering plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-edged copper</span> Species of butterfly

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<i>Lycaena dorcas</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Lycaena epixanthe</i> Species of butterfly

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

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, Plantago lanceolata, and Urtica australis. 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.

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

Ichneutica semivittata is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from 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 on 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.

<i>Lycaena feredayi</i> Species of butterfly

Lycaena feredayi, the glade copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Lycaena salustius</i> Species of butterfly

Lycaena salustius, the common copper or the coastal copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is known in the Maori language as pepe para riki, a name that is shared with a few other members of the genus Lycaena native to New Zealand.

<i>Lycaena arota</i> Species of butterfly

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<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>Hierodoris illita</i> Species of moth

Hierodoris illita is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. However this species has not been recorded at Stewart Island / Rakiura.

<i>Lycaena rauparaha</i> Species of butterfly

Lycaena rauparaha, Rauparaha's copper, Fereday’s copper or mokarakare is a species of butterfly endemic to New Zealand. It acquired its English common name because it occurred in the same coastal areas as the rangatira (chief) and war leader of Ngāti Toa Maori, Te Rauparaha.

<i>Physetica caerulea</i> Species of moth

Physetica caerulea is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the centre of the North Island south, including the South and Stewart Islands. The adult moths are variable in appearance but can be distinguished by the bluish tinge to the forewings as well as the underside buff colour. However this species does have several forms including a very dark bluish black form, a brownish form and a green-brown form. It lives in open habitats and can be found in tussock grasslands and dunes and can normally be found from altitudes of sea level up to 900 m. Adults of this species are on the wing from August to April. As at 2017, the life history of is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. However it has been hypothesised that the larval host species is a tomentose plant.

<i>Zapyrastra calliphana</i> Species of moth found in New Zealand and the Norfolk Islands

Zapyrastra calliphana is a species of moth of the family Momphidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1889. It is found throughout New Zealand including at the Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands as well as at the Norfolk Islands. The preferred habitat of this species are native forest clearings, shrubland or coastal habitat such as scrub or dunes. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and are hosted by Muehlenbeckia species. There are likely several generations during the New Zealand summer and one generation overwinters as pupae. This species is a day flying moth and adults can be observed on the wing from October to March.

<i>Meterana alcyone</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Meterana alcyone is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species feed on the leaves of Muehlenbeckia complexa and Corynocarpus laevigatus. Adults are on the wing every month of the year except January. They are attracted to light and have also been recorded as bycatch in the New Zealand National Fruit Fly Surveillance fly traps.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lycaena boldenarum White, 1862". GBIF.org. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Boulder Copper butterfly (Lycaena boldenarum)". Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 "November 4th 1861". Transactions of the Entomological Society of London: 26. 1861.
  4. ↑ "NZ Butterflies". Wordpress.com. 2012-03-15.
  5. ↑ "Boulder Copper Lycaena (Boldenaria) boldenarum". Yumpu. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Science Data - New Zealand native butterflies". The University of Waikato . Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  7. ↑ Craw, R.C. (1975). "Seasonal dissociation, habitat selection, population structure of New Zealand Lycaena (Lepidoptera:Lycaenidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 2 (1): 51–62. doi: 10.1080/03014223.1975.9517862 .
  8. 1 2 "Butterflies of New Zealand Boulder Copper Lycaena boldenarum WHITE, 1862 Family - LYCAENIDAE subfamily - LYCAENINAE Tribe - LYCAENINI". Adrian Hoskins. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "Lycaena at funet.fi". Markku Savela. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 6. ISBN   9781988514383.
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