Physetica prionistis

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Physetica prionistis
Graphania prionistis female.jpg
Female
Graphania prionistis male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Physetica
Species:
P. prionistis
Binomial name
Physetica prionistis
(Meyrick, 1887)
Synonyms
  • Mamestra prionistisMeyrick, 1887
  • Melanchra prionistis(Meyrick, 1887)
  • Graphania prionistis(Meyrick, 1887)

Physetica prionistis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1887. It is endemic to New Zealand and is widespread throughout the North, South and Chatham Islands. This species can be found in open clearings of shrubland and forest at altitudes from sea level up to the alpine zone. Adults are on the wing throughout the year and are attracted to sugar traps and occasionally to light. The life history of this species is unknown as are the larval host species.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1887 and named Mamestra prionistis. [1] In 1898 George Hudson discussed this species under the name Melanchra prionistis. [2] In 1928 Hudson again discussed the species under the same name. [3] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Graphania. [4] In 2017 Robert Hoare undertook a review of New Zealand Noctuinae and placed this species in the genus Physetica. [5] The lectotype specimen was collected by Richard William Fereday in Rakaia and held at the Natural History Museum, London. [5]

Description

Illustration by George Hudson of P. prionistis. Fig 22 MA I437608 TePapa Plate-IX-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration by George Hudson of P. prionistis.
Observation of living P. prionistis Physetica prionistis 118682877.jpg
Observation of living P. prionistis

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Male. — 45 mm. Head, palpi, thorax, and legs grey-whitish ; crown with two brown lines meeting in front ; palpi with second joint externally brown ; thorax with large anterior crest, two brown dorsal lines meeting in front, diverging and very indistinct posteriorly. Antennae grey, filiform, moderately ciliated. Abdomen grey, sides and anal tuft paler, and ochreous-tinged. Forewings moderately dilated, costa straight, apex obtuse, hind-margin crenulate, obliquely rounded ; pale ochreous-grey, densely and suffusedly irrorated with white, tending to form longitudinal streaks ; inner margin suffused with brownish ; lines hardly traceable, strongly dentate ; reniform narrow, white, anteriorly suffused, posteriorly edged with an interrupted blackish line ; subterminal indicated by a posterior brownish dentate margin, diverted to hindmargin below apex : cilia ochreous-grey, mixed with white. Hindwings rather dark grey ; cilia whitish, with a grey line. [1]

The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 37 and 45 mm and the female of between 39 and 43 mm. [5] This species is distinctive as it has a white central stripe down its thorax and the darker stripe of colour along the back part of the forewing. [5]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is widespread throughout the North, South and Chatham Islands. [5] This species is regarded as being rare in most locations however it has been found to be common at Mount Te Aroha. [6]

Habitat

This species is found in open clearings of shrubland and forest at altitudes from sea level up to the alpine zone (at least 1850 m). [5]

Behaviour

This species is on the wing throughout the year and are attracted to sugar traps and occasionally to light. [3] This species can sometimes be found during the day resting on trees, where it is camouflaged by its colouring. [2]

Life history and host species

The life history of this species is unknown as are the larval host species. [5] The larvae of this species have yet to be found. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Physetica</i> Genus of moths

Physetica is a genus of moths of the family Noctuidae. This genus is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Izatha prasophyta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Izatha prasophyta is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from the North Island, except Hawkes Bay or the Wairarapa. Larvae likely feed on rotting wood although larvae of this species have been reared on the fruiting body of the bracket fungus Bjerkandera adusta. Adults are on the wing from November to February.

<i>Eudonia asaleuta</i> Species of moth

Eudonia asaleuta is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1907. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the South Island in the West Coast, Fiordland,Canterbury, Otago and Southland regions. This species inhabits bare shingle areas as well as tussock habitat with few trees or scrub at altitudes of under 1000 m. Adults are on the wing from November to February.

<i>Hierodoris electrica</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Hierodoris electrica is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1889. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it has been reported from the northern and southern parts of the South Island. The larva of H. electrica has yet to be described. The wingspan is between 15 and 16.5 mm. The ground colour of the forewings is dark brown, with narrow yellow scales overlaying this base colour. The hindwings are brown. The known larval host species is Olearia nummulariifolia.

<i>Eudonia asterisca</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Eudonia asterisca is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was named by Edward Meyrick in 1884 and is endemic to New Zealand. It has been recorded in both the North and South Islands. This species is recorded as being present at sea level up to altitudes of 1350 m. This species has been recorded as inhabiting native podocarp/hardwood forests. The adults of this species are on the wing from December until March although they have also been recorded in October and November. They are attracted to light and have also been trapped via sugar 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 cana</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Ichneutica cana is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Physetica homoscia</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Physetica homoscia is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout New Zealand including in the Auckland Islands. This species inhabits places where its host plants are common and this includes costal dune habitat. It lives at a wide range of altitudes from sea-level up to at least 1750 m. The larvae of P. homoscia feed on Ozothamnus leptophyllus and Ozothamnus vauvilliersii. They are very active and drop to the ground when disturbed. Larvae are parasitised by a species of fly. This species pupates in the soil and the pupa life stage lasts for approximately 6 weeks. The adult moths are on the wing from September to June and are attracted to light. The adults of P. homoscia might possibly be confused with Ichneutica moderata however this latter species lacks the small white dots on the forewing veins of P. homoscia. Adults might also be confused with P. temperata but P. homoscia is significantly larger in size.

<i>Physetica cucullina</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Physetica cucullina is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the South Island, apart from in the Nelson district with the exception of the St Arnaud Range where it is present. It is likely to be also resident in Stewart Island. P. cucullina lives in shrubland at subalpine and alpine zones but can occur at sea-level in the more southern regions. The life history of this species is poorly documented. There is only one known record in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection of the larvae of this species having been reared. These larvae were reared on Leucopogon fraseri. Adults of this species is on the wing from October to March and are attracted to light. P. cucullina is almost identical in appearance to P. funerea. The only reliable distinguishing feature between the two species is the antennae of the male. P. cucullina is also very similar in appearance to P. sequens but P. sequens lacks the narrow black line on the forewing dorsum area that can be present on the forewings of P. cucullina.

Physetica funerea is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in the western and central parts of the South Island. This species inhabits shrubland in the subalpine and alpine zones. The life history of this species is unknown as are the larval host species. Adults of this species are on the wing from October to February. This species is almost identical to P. cucullina with the only difference between the two species being the structure of the male antennae. P. funerea is also similar in appearance to P. sequens, but the latter species tends to have a prominently underlined kidney-shaped mark nearer to the outer edge of the forewing.

<i>Physetica sequens</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Physetica sequens is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the North and South Islands. It appears to be more common in the North Island than the South Island, and lives in open native shrublands, peatlands, Northland gumland, inland volcanic dunes, and Dracophyllum-dominated areas at altitudes that range from sea level to the alpine zone, up to at least 1600 m. Larvae of this species have been successfully reared on Leucopogon fasciculatus and Leptecophylla juniperina. The adults of this species are variable in appearance and are on the wing from September to March. P. sequens is similar in appearance to P. phricias but can be distinguished as P. phricias has a narrow black line along the dorsum of its forewing that P. sequens does not. P. sequens is also similar in appearance to P. cucullina however the forewing dorsum area of P. sequens does not have the narrow black line that is frequently present on P. cucullina forewings.

<i>Tingena anaema</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena anaema is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at Lake Wakatipu, Invercargill and Stewart Island / Rakiura. The adults of the species are on the wing in December.

<i>Tingena aphrontis</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena aphrontis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at altitudes between 3000 - 5000 ft at Arthur's Pass and Mount Arthur. The species lives in open alpine habitat amongst alpine vegetation. Adults of the species are on the wing in January.

<i>Tingena berenice</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena berenice is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the North and South Islands. It is a brightly coloured species which is on the wing in November. Its preferred habitat is mixed beech forest.

<i>Tingena chloritis</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena chloritis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the South Island. Larvae of this species feed on leaf litter. The adults of this species are light flyers and are attracted to light.

<i>Tingena falsiloqua</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena falsiloqua is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the North Island. This species frequents subalpine native forest.

<i>Tingena hemimochla</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena hemimochla is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island. Adults of this species are on the wing from December until March.

<i>Tingena oxyina</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena oxyina is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Otago region. This species inhabits native beech forest at altitudes of between 1000 - 3000 ft. Adults of this species are on the wing in January.

<i>Trachypepla importuna</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla importuna is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1914. It is endemic to New Zealand. Adults have been collected in the North Island in January but the species is regarded as being poorly known.

<i>Trachypepla indolescens</i> Species of moth found in New Zealand and presumed to be native to Australia

Trachypepla importuna is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1927. This moth is regarded as having being introduced to New Zealand and is presumed to be native to Australia. T. importuna has been collected in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It inhabits native scrub and adults are on the wing in January and February. The placement of this species in the genus Trachypepla is regarded as being unsatisfactory and in need of revision.

References

  1. 1 2 Edward Meyrick (1887). "Monograph of New Zealand Noctuina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 19: 27. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q104048034.
  2. 1 2 George Vernon Hudson (1898), New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) , Illustrator: George Hudson, London, p. 27, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.7912, OCLC   980865393, Wikidata   Q19073637
  3. 1 2 George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, p. 75, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286
  4. ↑ John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 205. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Robert J. B. Hoare (23 June 2017). Illustrator: Birgit E. Rhode. "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 1: Austramathes, Cosmodes, Proteuxoa, Physetica" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. 73: 52–54. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.73. ISSN   0111-5383. OCLC   1002177011. Wikidata   Q44893580.
  6. 1 2 Robert J. B. Hoare (2020), The Moths of Mt Te Aroha (PDF), pp. 1–11, Wikidata   Q113345596, archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2022


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