Poecilasthena schistaria

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Poecilasthena schistaria
Poecilasthena schistaria female.jpg
Female
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Poecilasthena
Species:
P. schistaria
Binomial name
Poecilasthena schistaria
(Walker, 1861) [1]
Synonyms
  • Acidalia schistariaWalker, 1861
  • Asthena schistaria

Poecilasthena schistaria, the kanuka looper, is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in New Zealand. [2]

The wings vary from very pale brown to rather dull purplish-brown with numerous jagged, darker transverse lines. Adults are on wing from October to April. [3]

The larvae feed on Leptospermum scoparium . [4] They are dull green with a white more or less black-edged band down each side. There is a thin central white line on the back, and a narrow yellow line half-way between it and the lateral white band. The head is dull green. [5] Pupation takes place in a slight cocoon below the surface of the earth.

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References

  1. Yu, Dicky Sick Ki. "Poecilasthena schistaria (Walker 1861)". Home of Ichneumonoidea. Taxapad. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016.
  2. Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Poecilasthena schistaria". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index . Natural History Museum.
  3. New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)
  4. Rod Morris: New Zealand Invertebrates
  5. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961