| Planotortrix avicenniae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Genus: | Planotortrix |
| Species: | P. avicenniae |
| Binomial name | |
| Planotortrix avicenniae | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Planotortrix avicenniae is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the North Island and its larvae feed on mangrove trees.
This species was first described in 1990 by John S. Dugdale. [1] [2] The holotype specimen in held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. The species name refers to Avicennia , the genus of the larval host plant. [2]
Adults are charcoal brown with an obscure pattern, sometimes consisting of ash or ochreous scales. The female of the species can be difficult to distinguish from the females of P. excessana and P. octo . [2] However the larvae of P. avicenniae are distinctive. [2] Unlike the green headed and bodied larvae of P. excessana and P. octo they are grey greenish in colour with a brownish head. [2]
This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [3] It has only been observed in the North Island in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel, and the Bay of Plenty. [2]
The larvae of this species web together and feed on the leaves of their host plant. [4]
The larvae feed only on the mangrove tree species Avicennia marina . [4] [5]
Planotortrix is a genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Tortricinae of the family Tortricidae.
Planotortrix excessana, the greenheaded leafroller, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is native to New Zealand and is an introduced species in Hawaii. It is extremely variable in appearance and feeds on many native and introduced species. It is regarded as a pest of some agricultural and forestry crops.
Cryptaspasma querula is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. This species inhabits podocarp and broadleaf forest. The larvae consume parts of the seeds and fruits of tawa, tarairi and miro trees and are predated upon by the invasive to New Zealand house mouse. Adults are variable in appearance and also in size. They are on the wing throughout the year and are nocturnal but are attracted to light. They can be found having flown inside houses and have also been observed resting on fences or other human made structures during the day.
Heterocrossa eriphylla, also known as the lichen snoutlet moth, is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The larvae of this species feed on the healing wounds of New Zealand beech trees.
Planotortrix octo is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found in both the North and South islands.
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.
Ctenopseustis filicis is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South and Stewart Islands.
Leucotenes coprosmae is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in New Zealand, where it has been recorded from the North and South islands, as well as Stewart Island.
Planotortrix flammea is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Planotortrix octoides is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it has been recorded from the Chatham Islands only.
Planotortrix puffini is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. Specimens have been collected from Lee Bay in Stewart Island.
Planotortrix notophaea, the blacklegged leafroller, is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was also present near Sydney in Australia, but this population is thought to be extinct.
Apoctena clarkei is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in New Zealand, where it is only found on the North Island.
Apoctena orthocopa is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found only on the North Island.
Apoctena persecta is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in New Zealand, where it is found only on the South Island.
Apoctena spatiosa is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in New Zealand, where it is located on both the North and South islands.
Ericodesma aerodana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. The species inhabits sand dunes and larvae feed on Pimelea prostrata. Adults are on the wing from October to January and are active at twilight. This species is classified as "At Risk, Declining" by the Department of Conservation as its larval host plant is under threat from habitat loss and the invasive to New Zealand plant, sea spurge.
Ericodesma cuneata, the Corokia leafroller moth, is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.
Anisoplaca ptyoptera is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found throughout the North and South Islands and prefers habitat where its host plants are common. The larval hosts of this moth are species in the genus Carmichaelia and the larvae stem mine the host plant. However larvae have also been observed feeding on gorse species and as a result their potential as a biological control for gorse has been researched. This behaviour has only been recorded in the Canterbury and Otago regions. A. ptyoptera overwinters as larvae and while in that life stage can be parasitised by species of wasp in the genera Zealachertus and Diadegma. Pupation begins in October. Adult moths are on the wing from October until May with peak emergence occurring in January. The adult moths come in two size classes and should the size of the female be in the larger class fecundity is improved. It is likely that this species has only one brood a year.
Proteodes carnifex is a species of moth in the family Depressariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. Both the larvae and the adults of this species are variable in appearance. However the adults are normally easily identified as the outline is characteristic and the size is consistent. In appearance, adult moths mimic the leaves of their larval host plants. This species has been found near Wellington in the North Island, the tableland of Mount Arthur, in the Canterbury region, Arthur's Pass and at Lake Wakatipu in the South Island. The larval hosts of this species are southern beech trees particularly Nothofagus solandri var. solandari and Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides but larvae have also been found on Nothofagus fusca, Nothofagus truncata and Nothofagus menziesii. The female moth deposits her eggs individually on the underside of native beech tree leaves. Once hatched the larvae feed on those leaves through winter and spring and then pupate in January. The adult moth emerges from the pupa after fourteen days and is on the wing from January until April. They are day flying moths and are not attracted to light. Various insects parasitise the larvae of this moth including several species of wasp as well as flies including the endemic fly, Pales funesta.
