Pseudocoremia suavis

Last updated

Pseudocoremia suavis
Pseudocoremia suavis male.jpg
Male
Pseudocoremia suavis female.jpg
Female
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Pseudocoremia
Species:
P. suavis
Binomial name
Pseudocoremia suavis
Butler, 1879

Pseudocoremia suavis, the common forest looper, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. [1] It is regarded as being endemic to New Zealand. [1] [2] In 2007, however, the moth was found in west Cornwall, Great Britain, the first time it has been found outside of New Zealand.

Contents

Range

The common forest looper is endemic and common throughout New Zealand feeding on many species of trees and shrubs. [2] An unidentified specimen was caught on 15 April 2007 by Tony James at a regular garden light trap, approximately, near Tregonning Hill in the parish of Breage. [3] By October a further four were caught in the same garden; although it took a year before the specimens were identified by the Natural History Museum, London. The garden is adjacent to a small plant nursery and it is possible the moth may have been introduced on plants from another British nursery. [4]

Life cycle

The descriptions below are mainly from an individual female caught on 30 October 2015 in west Cornwall and retained for breeding. The larvae were reared at 15–20 °C, in air-tight plastic boxes. [3]

Egg

The female laid sixty eggs, some individually but most in groups of fourteen to twenty along the edge of tissue paper. When laid the eggs were dark green turning to brownish purple after seven days. After seventeen days the larvae hatched eating the egg cases. [3] In New Zealand breeding experiments many females laid over one hundred eggs. [2]

Larva

The larvae feed on a wide range of trees and shrubs and have caused serious defoliation in exotic plantations in New Zealand on two occasions. In the 1950s and early 1960s in mostly Monterey pine ( Pinus radiata ) plantations in Canterbury (including Eyrewell Forest), and in the 1970s, Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) plantations on the North Island. [3]

Pupa

The pupae were 10–12 mm long, green at first turning mahogany-brown within two days. Pupation took two to three days. [3]

Imago

The wingspan is about 30 mm.

Food plants

The larvae feed on a wide range of plants in New Zealand including southern beech (Nothofagus spp.), podocarps and kanuka ( Kunzea ericoides ). [2] [5] They also feed on European gorse ( Ulex europaeus ). Some of the Cornish larvae initially fed on Leyland cypress (Cupressus × leylandii) and were moved to Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in the second instar when they became unhealthy. They also fed on box ( Buxus sempervirens ) and yew ( Taxus baccata ) but preferred Scots pine.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bordered white</span> Species of moth

The bordered white or pine looper, is a moth of the family Geometridae. Among these, it belongs to tribe Bupalini of the subfamily Ennominae. B. piniaria is a common species throughout the western Palearctic region, the Near East and North Africa. However, its presence in certain regions – e.g. the northern Balkans – is doubtful.

<i>Declana floccosa</i> Species of moth

Declana floccosa, the forest semilooper or manuka moth is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1863 using specimens obtained from Colonel Bolton.

<i>Epyaxa rosearia</i> Species of moth

Epyaxa rosearia, the New Zealand looper or plantain moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pseudocoremia melinata</span> Species of moth

Pseudocoremia melinata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Pseudocoremia fenerata</i> Species of moth

Pseudocoremia fenerata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Pseudocoremia</i> Genus of moths

Pseudocoremia is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae erected by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. This genus is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Stigmella fulva</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella fulva is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island around Mount Taranaki, in the South Island and at Stewart Island. The species' eggs are laid singly but a considerable number may be deposited on the upper surface of one leaf. The incubation period can last from a week to a month depending on climatic conditions. The larvae mine the leaves of their host plants which are all in the genus Olearia. Larvae have been recorded in all months except January, February and June. The cocoon is brown and spun amongst the leaf litter under its host plant. The pupal period has been shown to range from 21 days to 79 days, again depending on climatic conditions. Adults have been observed on the wing January until March and August to December. They are active in the sun about their larval food plant.

<i>Stigmella hoheriae</i> Species of moth

Stigmella hoheriae is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. This day flying moth is found in New Zealand in both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest. Eggs are laid on the surface of a still growing leaf of a host plant. Larvae feed on Hoheria species such as Hoheria glabrata, Hoheria populnea, Hoheria sexstylosa and Hoheria angustifolia and have been recorded from February to August. The larvae of S. hoheriae are leaf miners. Their mines create blotches on the host plant leaves. S. hoheriae larvae pupate in a silk cocoon on the ground at the base of their food plant. Adult moths have been observed on the wing in February and from July to December. This species is rarely noticed as it is very small and as a result does not tend to attract attention when on the wing.

<i>Planotortrix excessana</i> Species of moth

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.

<i>Izatha peroneanella</i> Species of moth

Izatha peroneanella, also known as the small lichen moth or the green lichen tuft, is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found throughout the North Island, other than the Aupouri Peninsula of Northland.

<i>Wiseana copularis</i> Species of moth

Wiseana copularis is a species of moth belonging to the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is one of several very similar looking species within the genus Wiseana and this group are collectively referred to as "Porina" moths. In its larvae form this species consumes pasture grasses and, if numerous, is regarded as a pest by New Zealand farmers reliant on good quality pasture for their stock.

<i>Epiphryne undosata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Epiphryne undosata, also known as the lacebark looper, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest. The larvae feed on plant species in the genera Hoheria and Plagianthus. They pupate amongst dead leaves in a silk cocoon. The adult moths have been observed on the wing all year round but are most commonly seen from November until February. The adult moths are extremely variable in both their colour intensity and wing pattern.

<i>Nudaurelia cytherea</i> Species of moth

Nudaurelia cytherea, also called the pine tree emperor moth or Christmas caterpillar due to its festive colouration, is a southern African member of the family Saturniidae. The family has large edible caterpillars which are an important source of protein for the Bantu peoples of southern Africa. The genus Nudaurelia is closely related to Gonimbrasia and Imbrasia. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775.

<i>Hylastes ater</i> Species of beetle

Hylastes ater is a species of beetle in the family Curculionidae, the true weevils. It is a bark beetle, a member of the subfamily Scolytinae. Its common name is the black pine bark beetle. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia, including China and Korea. It is known as an introduced species in many other regions, including Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, and South Africa. It is a pest of pines and other trees, and it is widespread in areas where pine trees are cultivated. The species "is an important threat to the biosecurity of all forested countries."

<i>Glaucocharis elaina</i> Species of moth

Glaucocharis elaina is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North and South Island with the exception of the extreme south of the South Island. The preferred habitat of this species is lowland native forest and as adults the species is attracted to broken ground including road or rail cuttings. Larvae feed on moss species including those in the genus Funaria. This species has two distinct broods during each year. Adults are on the wing from October to April, are nocturnal and are attracted to light.

<i>Cleora scriptaria</i> Species of moth

Cleora scriptaria, the kawakawa looper moth, is a moth in the family Geometridae endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Notoreas elegans</i> Species of moth

Notoreas elegans is a species of moth in the family Geometridae, endemic to New Zealand. This species has a wide distribution in New Zealand and is therefore regarded as not being in need of conservation.

<i>Notoreas isoleuca</i> Species of moth

Notoreas isoleuca is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Ischalis nelsonaria</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Ischalis nelsonaria, also known as the angled fern looper, is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described in 1875. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. I. nelsonaria inhabits native forest. The larval host of this species is Zealandia pustulata. Larvae have also been raised on Blechnum novae-zelandiae. Adult moths of this species are variable in appearance and are nocturnal. They have been observed on the wing throughout the year but are most frequently observed in February and March. They have been observed feeding on the flowers of Metrosideros diffusa.

<i>Pseudocoremia lupinata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Pseudocoremia lupinata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in both the North and South Islands. The favoured habitat of this species is Kānuka scrubland as its larval hosts are species in the genus Kunzea. Both the larvae and adults of this species are nocturnal. Adult moths are commonly on the wing from December to June and are attracted to light.

References

  1. 1 2 Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 458. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Berndt, Lisa; Brockerhoff, Eckehard G.; Jactel, Hervé; Weis, Tanja; Beaton, Janette (December 2004). "Biology and rearing of Pseudocoremia suavis, an endemic looper (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) with a history of outbreaks on exotic conifers". New Zealand Entomologist. 27: 73–82. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.694.4615 . doi:10.1080/00779962.2004.9722127. S2CID   84358294.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Brown, David C G; Barron, Scott J (2016). "The Captive Rearing of Common Forest Looper Pseudocoremia suavis Butler, 1879". Atropos (57): 17–21. ISSN   1478-8128.
  4. ↑ James, Tony. "Common Forest Looper Pseudocoremia suavis". UKMoths. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.