| Meterana grandiosa | |
|---|---|
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Meterana |
| Species: | M. grandiosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Meterana grandiosa | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Meterana grandiosa is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.
This species was first described and illustrated by Alfred Philpott in 1903 and was given the name Melanchra grandiosa. [1] Philpott used a female specimen he collected at West Plains in Southland in May. [3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. [4] In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Meterana. [2] The hototype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. [2]
Larvae are green in appearance with a broad white lateral stripe. [5] As they mature larvae turn a pinkish colour and can grow to be 3.3 cm in length. [5]
Philpott originally described the adult female of the species as follows:
♀︎ , 44 mm. Antennae and legs brownish-ochreous. Palpi brown, terminal joint ochreous. Face greyish. Thorax bright orange-brown, between patagia brownish-yellow ; slight anterior and strong double posterior crest. Abdomen dull-brownish, anal segment tipped with pale-yellow. Fore wings slightly sinuate on costa, apex subacute, termen crenulate, purplish-brown, base suffused with ochreous. An indistinct pale irregular line near base ; a small elongate yellow spot above middle at about 1⁄5 ; an ochreous patch below middle from base to 1⁄5 ; below this a broad elbowed black line to 1⁄4 ; dorsum broadly suffused with pale-ochreous ; an irregular V-sbaped pale purplish-brown line from near costa at about 1⁄4;, shortly bent towards base, thence obliquely to near dorsum at 1⁄2, again slanting upwards to reniform ; space within V-shaped line much darker. Near centre of wing, above middle, a large bell-shaped ochreous blotch, the base towards costa. Eeniform faintly outlined in pale purplish-grey. A sharply defined oblique line from costa near apex to dorsum at 2⁄3 , dentate near apex and broadly projecting below middle ; beyond this line the colour is ochreous-brownish densely irrorated with dark- brown. A waved subterminal line. Cilia brownish-ochreous on termen, pale-ochreous on dorsum. Hind wings dull brownish ; cilia brown, greyish towards tornus. [3]
This species is endemic to New Zealand. [6] M. grandiosa has occurred in Wairarapa, Central Otago, Otago Lakes, Dunedin and Southland zones. [7] [5] However this species is now locally extinct in its type locality of West Plains and has not been collected in Dunedin since the 1960s. [7]
Larvae hide underneath the bark of their host plants during the day which makes them difficult to detect. [7] Larvae pupate between November and December and the adult moth emerges during the autumn months of mid April to early June. [7]
The plant host species for the larvae of M. grandiosa are small-leaved Olearia species. [7] [5] These include O. hectorii and O. odorata. [7]
This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Relict". [8] One of the reasons for this classification is that the habitat of this species is under threat from land development. [7] The elimination of the host plants of this species has resulted in their extinction from sites in New Zealand. [5]
Zealandopterix zonodoxa is a moth of the family Micropterigidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is located from Hawkes Bay north as well as on Poor Knights, Little Barrier and the Great Barrier Islands. It is the smallest micropterigid in New Zealand and the shiny white markings on the forewing of this species display variation. It is a moth that is active during the day, but has been collected using UV light. Adults are on the wing from September to March and the species has been witnessed visiting the flowers of Nikau and Cordyline pumilio in large numbers. It inhabits a wide variety of moist indigenous forest but is associated with forests in which podocarps are common. Larvae have been sieved from rotten wood on the floor of a mixed podocarp/broadleaf forest or extracted from moss or from bryophytes.
Sabatinca calliarcha is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1912. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in two separate areas of New Zealand - the first in the norther parts of the North Island including Great Barrier Island and the second population can be found from the top of the South Island down to Southland. The adults of the species are on the wing from the end of September until the middle of January. The species prefers to inhabit damp forests and larvae likely feed on leafy liverwort species. Adult moths likely feed on the spores of ferns or the pollen of sedge grasses.
Asterivora inspoliata is a species of moth in the family Choreutidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the southern parts of the South Island. Adults are on the wing in December and January.
Mnesarchaea paracosma is a species of primitive moths in the family Mnesarchaeidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the Kaikōura, mid and south Canterbury, MacKenzie, Otago Lakes, Central Otago, Dunedin, Fiordland and Southland areas. M. paracosma lives in a wide variety of habitats including tussock grasslands, shrubland, and damp native beech or podocarp forests, at a range of altitudes from around sea-level up to 1200 m. Adults of this species are on the wing from October to February and are day flying, although they are attracted to light at night.
Stathmopoda albimaculata is a species of moth in the Stathmopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand and is located in the lower half of the South Island. This species favours habitat that includes the various Olearia species that host its larvae. It has also been found to inhabit lowland podocarp native forest. The larvae feed on species in the genus Olearia. Adults are on the wing between the months of October and February. S. albimaculata is classified as Nationally Endangered by the Department of Conservation.
Pyrgotis eudorana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic in New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. However it is regarded as a rare insect. This species inhabits native forest. Larvae exclusively feed on Muehlenbeckia australis and adults are on the wing from November to April. Adults are attracted to light.
Thiotricha oleariae is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is endemic to in New Zealand, where it has been recorded from the central part of the North Island south down to Stewart Island. The species is found at altitudes of between sea-level up to 900 metres. The larvae live in a constructed case, are leaf miners and are active in November. The larval host species are within in the genus Olearia. Adults are nocturnal and on the wing from November to March.
Pseudocoremia fluminea is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Not Threatened by the Department of Conservation.
Asaphodes albalineata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed on Stewart Island / Rakiura. This species is similar in appearance to Asaphodes oraria but can be distinguished as it has an unusual pattern on the underside of its hindwings. It inhabits open hill tops and adults are on the wing in December.
Gingidiobora nebulosa, the gingidium looper moth, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.
Helastia expolita is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and occurs in the Buller, Marlborough, North and Mid Canterbury regions.This species inhabits short tussock grassland in montane to subalpine zones. Adult moths are nocturnal but little is known about the life history of H. expolita. Adults have been observed on the wing in November. It has been hypothesised the larvae of H. expolita feed on the flowers of Helichrysum species and then feed on mosses, lichens or shrubs growing nearby. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.
Meterana exquisita is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.
Hydriomena iolanthe is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is indigenous to New Zealand. This species is based on a single specimen that is now lost and has not been matched to any known species. As such it is classified as data deficient by the Department of Conservation.
Asaphodes helias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It has been found in the middle and southern parts of the South Island. This species frequents tussock and scrubby habitat. The host plants of the larvae of this species include Cardamine and Ranunculus species. They have also been witnessed feeding on exotic buttercup species in the genus Bellis. Adults are on the wing in January and February.
Tingena hastata is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern part of the South Island. Adults of this species are on the wing in October.
Tingena serena is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Southland and Dunedin. The adults of this species are on the wing in December and January.
Asaphodes recta is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern parts of the South Island. The preferred habitat of this species is open tussock grassland. The adults are on the wing in February and March. Larvae of this species have been reared on species in the genera Ranunculus and Bellis.
Meterana badia is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand.
Trachypepla minuta is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Alfred Philpott in 1931. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in Auckland. Adults of this species are on the wing in December. It is distinguishable from similar species as it is smaller in size and darker in appearance than other species in the genus Trachypepla.
Chrysorthenches virgata is a species of moth in the family Plutellidae. It was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1920. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the North, South and Chatham Islands at altitudes ranging from sea-level up to approximately 1000 m. This species inhabits areas where its larval host plants, Libocedrus bidwillii and Cupressus macrocarpa are common. The larvae feed on the leaves of their hosts from under a silk shelter and pupate in a cocoon of thick silk covered in frass. Adult moths are on the wing from September to February as well as in April and June.
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