Proteuxoa tetronycha

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Proteuxoa tetronycha
Proteuxoa tetronycha 79609821.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Proteuxoa
Species:
P. tetronycha
Binomial name
Proteuxoa tetronycha
Hoare, 2017 [1]

Proteuxoa tetronycha is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic, and can be found throughout, New Zealand. This species was previously muddled up with the rarer Proteuxoa comma and is very similar in appearance to that other species. P. tetronycha can be distinguished from P. comma by the paler colour of its prothorax as well as the browner base colour of its forewings. P. tetronycha is also a smaller moth with the wingspan of the adults of this species being between 29 and 33 mm. There are also differences between the females of these two species. For the females of P. tetronycha, their ovipositor (the tubular organ through which the female moth lays her eggs) is lacking the spiny hair like structures that are present on the ovipositor of P. comma. Larvae likely feed on a variety of host species and have been raised on Acaena species as well as Poa cita . The adults of this species are on the wing from September to March and are attracted to light.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Robert J. B. Hoare in 2017. [2] This species was previously muddled up with the rarer P. comma. The female holotype was collected at Taupō by J. S. Armstrong and is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. [2]

Description

Proteuxoa tetronycha, observation confirmed by Robert Hoare. Proteuxoa tetronycha 103167769.jpg
Proteuxoa tetronycha, observation confirmed by Robert Hoare.

The wingspan of the adults of this species is between 29 and 33 mm. P. tetronycha is very similar in appearance to P. comma. [2] P. tetronycha can be distinguished from P. comma by the paler colour of its prothorax as well as the browner base colour of its forewings. There are also differences between the females of these two species. For the females of P. tetronycha, their ovipositor (the tubular organ through which the female moth lays her eggs) is lacking the spiny hair like structures that are present on the ovipositor of P. comma. [2]

Distribution

It is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [3] This species can be found throughout New Zealand, although as at 2017 it is not known from the Chatham Islands. [2]

Behaviour

Adults of the species are on the wing from September to March. [2] The adult moths are attracted to light. [4]

Life history and host species

Poa cita, used to rear P. tetronycha larvae. Poa cita cita Edgar (AM AK302458).jpg
Poa cita, used to rear P. tetronycha larvae.

The larvae of this species are likely to feed on a variety of host species. [2] However, as a result of this species being long confused with P. comma, records of host species are intermingled with the latter species. It is known that this species has been reared on piripiri (Acaena anserinifolia) as well as Poa cita. [2]

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

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

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<i>Ichneutica steropastis</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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<i>Proteuxoa comma</i> Species of moth

Proteuxoa comma is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in the lower half of the North Island and throughout the South Island, although it appears to be more frequent on the eastern side of these islands, and also is present in Stewart Island. P. comma is very similar in appearance to P. tetronycha but can be distinguished as it is a larger moth with slightly different colouration on, as well as shape of, its forewings. This species pupates in the soil. The adult moths are on the wing from December to April. P. comma may possibly be declining in population and as at 2017 a reassessment of its conservation status is regarded as being needed.

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<i>Persectania aversa</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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<i>Austramathes squaliolus</i> Species of moth

Austramathes squaliolus is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in the Chatham Islands on the Chatham, Pitt, Little Mangere and Rangatira Islands. The larvae of A. squaliolus is similarly patterned to the larvae of A. fortis and have lateral yellow markings that contrast with the dark dorsal marbling. However this marbling is darker in A. squaliolus in comparison to the lighter coloured A. fortis. Melicytus chathamicus is the larval host-plant for this species. The adult moth is again very similar in appearance to A. fortis and, as with A. fortis, the black line curved at the forewing base is the distinguishing feature. However the two species are unlikely to be confused as their ranges do not overlap. The adult moths are on the wing in November and December and have been observed flying at dusk.

Austramathes coelacantha is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the central and east of the South Island. It lives in shrubland in inland areas as well as in Southern beech forest at subalpine altitudes. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. However the larval host-plants may be species within the genus of Melicytus. Adult moths are on the wing during the months of January to March. They are attracted to light and appear to be active later in the evening, and not at twilight.

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

Ichneutica disjungens is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on the central volcanic plateau of the North Island and in the eastern as well as the south western parts of the South Island. I. disjungens inhabits tussock grasslands in the alpine and subalpine zones. The hosts of the larvae of this species include Poa cita, P. colensoi, Festuca novae-zelandiae and Dracophyllum acerosum. The adults of this species are distinctive and are unlikely to be confused with other species. They are on the wing between October and March.

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

Ichneutica sistens is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in the central North Island and throughout the South Island, although it is more common on the eastern side of that latter Island. It is very variable in both colour and size. I. sistens prefers open habitat such as tussock grasslands, dunes and braided rivers. Larval host species include grasses in the family Poaceae and include species in the genera Rytidosperma and Elymus, as well as Poa cita and Agrostis capillaris. Adults are on the wing from January to May and are attracted to light.

<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 longstaffi</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Physetica longstaffi is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in the North and South Islands. This species lives in open habitats and shrublands, at altitudes ranging from the low alpine zone down to sea-level. As at 2017 the biology of this species is in need of further investigation as there is no published description of the larvae of this species nor have larval specimens been preserved in collections. There is also confusion over the possible larval host plants for this species. This species is on the wing from February to May. There is also a record from the North Cape in December. The adults of this species is attracted to light. P. longstaffi might possibly be confused with P. sequens or P. phricias. However unlike both P. sequens and P. phricias, P. longstaffi has a large oval mark near the centre of the forewing. Other distinguishing features include further differences in the colouration of the forewings of P. longstaffi as well as differences in the third labial palp segment of the male and differences in the shape of the male genitalia.

References

  1. 1 2 "Proteuxoa tetronycha Hoare, 2017". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hoare, R.J.B. (2017). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 1: Austramathes, Cosmodes, Proteuxoa, Physetica" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 73: 1–130. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.73 via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
  3. "Proteuxoa tetronycha Hoare, 2017". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  4. Steer, Tony. "Lepidoptera of the Coromandel Peninsula". www.naturewatch.org.nz. Naturewatch New Zealand. Retrieved 26 April 2018.