Pterophorus monospilalis | |
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Specimen from the New Zealand Arthropod Collection | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Pterophoridae |
Genus: | Pterophorus |
Species: | P. monospilalis |
Binomial name | |
Pterophorus monospilalis (Walker, 1864) | |
Synonyms | |
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Pterophorus monospilalis, the white plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and occurs throughout the country. It inhabits native forest, parks and domestic gardens. Larvae are active during the day, are slow moving, and feed exposed. They feed on Araliaceae species as well as on Hedera helix, Meryta sinclairii, and Schefflera digitata. There are several broods in a year. Adult moths are on the wing from November until May and are attracted to light.
This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1864 and named Aciptilus monospilalis. [1] In 1875 Cajetan von Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer, thinking they were describing a new species, named it Aciptilia patruelis. [2] In 1885 Meyrick synonymised A. patruelis with A. monospilalis. [3] In the same publication Meyrick, thinking he was describing a new species, also named this species as Aciptilia lycosema. [3] Merick described both A. monospilalis and the newly named A. lycosema in greater detail in a later 1885 publication. [4] In 1913 Meyrick placed both A. monospilalis and A. lycosema into the genus Alucita. [5] This placement was followed by George Hudson in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [6] In the same publication Hudson continued to treated A. lycosema as a separate species. [6] In 1934 A. V. Chappell, while discussing the work Alfred Philpott had undertaken examining the genitalia of both A. monospilalis and A. lycosema, [7] argued that the morphological similarities as well as the life histories of the two were sufficient to show that A. lycosema was a synonym of A.monospilalis. [8] In 1988 John S. Dugdale synonymised the two varieties of the species Aciptilus furcatalis originally described by Walker in his 1864 publication into Pterophorus monospilalis. [1] [9] In 1993 Cees Gielis discussed this species under the name Pterophorus monospilalis but placed it in a list where the species were regarded as having an uncertain status. [10] The male lectotype specimen, collected by D. Bolton in Auckland, is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [9]
The egg of this species is elliptical shaped and coloured a very pale green with a faint honeycomb pattern on the flattened upper surface. [8]
The mature larva was described by Chappell as follows:
13 mm. long ; gradually tapering posteriorly ; dorso-ventrally compressed, the ventral surface flat ; 14 apparent segments ; 16 legs ; spiracles borne at ends of short protuberances. Head whitish with pale ochreous-brown markings on crown and sides, mouth-parts pale brown, ocelli brownish or reddish. Body semi-transparent, of a pale slightly yellowish delicate green through which the darker green alimentary canal is visible ; the ventral surface much paler than the dorsal, being rather whitish. Variation in the intensity of green is but slight; some specimens slightly marked with black on anterior dorsal region, and flecked with pinkish or pale mauve. Setae numerous, arising from regular series of small verrucae; dorsal setae red-brown, the others white. [8]
The pupa is described by Chappell as being 10 mm long and coloured a very pale green with whitish shades on the wings and ventral portions. There is a noticeable black dorsal mark frequently present on lower thorax. The pupa often has pinkish-mauve marks. There are numerous setae with those on dorsal and lateral surfaces coloured a golden-brown, while those on ventral surface are white. [8]
The wingspan of the adult moth is between 21–23 mm. The head, palpi, antennae, thorax, abdomen, and legs are white. The forewings are snow-white with a few brownish-ochreous scales, a blackish dot before the cleft and a minute one on the inner margin before the middle. The hindwings and cilia are snow-white. [11]
This species has a form that has a brown streak on its forewing. [12] This form can be confused with P. furcatalis but can be distinguished as the second plume is white where as with P. furcatalis that second plume is brown. [12]
This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. [12] However it tends to be scarce in the northern parts of the North Island as well as in the southern parts of the South Island. [12]
The species inhabits native forest as well as domestic gardens and parks. [12] The larvae feed on young new tips of Araliaceae species including Neopanax arboreus , [13] Neopanax colensoi , and Pseudopanax lessonii as well as on Hedera helix, Meryta sinclairii, and Schefflera digitata . [14] [15]
The larvae of this species are diurnal, slow moving, and feed exposed without external protection. [12] [8] When they pupate the cocoon-less pupa is attached to the host plant leaf via a thread of silk. [12] There are several broods in year. [8] Adults are on the wing from November to May. [12] It has been hypothesised that some adults from the autumn brood hibernate through winter. [15] However it is more likely that the species exists in pupa through winter. [15] They are nocturnal and are attracted to light. [12]
Philocryptica is a monotypic genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Tortricinae of the family Tortricidae. It contains only one species, Philocryptica polypodii, the leather-leaf star-miner, which is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been recorded in both the North Island and the South Island, as far south as Banks Peninsula. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest where the species' larval host is present. The larvae feed on Pyrrosia eleagnifolia, mining the host plant leaves. P. polypodii pupates within the final blotch-mine. Adults are on the wing in November and December.
Amblyptilia falcatalis, the common Hebe plume moth, is a species of moth of the family Pterophoridae. This species was first described by Francis Walker and is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found in both the North and South Islands. The larval host plants are in the Veronica genus and include Veronica stricta,Veronica salicifolia,Veronica elliptica, Veronica macrocarpa and Veronica speciosa. This moth likely has two broods a year and adults have been observed all year round.
Stigmella cypracma is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and pupate within their mines. The larval host species is Brachyglottis repanda. Adult moths are on the wing in February and September to November. This species has two generations per year.
Heterocrossa adreptella is a moth of the Carposinidae family. This species was long considered the New Zealand raspberry budmoth however this was a taxonomic misinterpretation of the type material used to describe this species. This error was corrected in 1988 with the New Zealand raspberry budmoth giving its own species name Heterocrossa rubophaga. H. adreptella is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the Wellington Botanic Garden and been observed resting on mānuka branches.
Heterocrossa epomiana is a species moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Westland. Adults are on the wing in January. This species is visually very similar to H. gonosemana and to H. philpotti.
Amblyptilia deprivatalis is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. This species was first described by Frances Walker in 1864. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North and South Islands. Adults are on the wing from October to May and have an affinity to species in the genus Senecio.
Pterophorus furcatalis, the Pittosporum plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It was first described by Frances Walker and is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. Its preferred habitat is dense native bush. Larval host plants include Pittosporum eugenioides and Pittosporum crassicaule. Adult moths are on the wing from November to March and are attracted to light.
Pterophorus innotatalis is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the North, South and Ruapuke Islands. Adults of this species have been recorded as being on the wing from October to March as well as in August and prefers to inhabit grass or fern covered hills. The larvae are leaf miners and feed on Dichondra species, including Dichondra brevifolia and Dichondra repens.
Pasiphila charybdis is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Scoriodyta conisalia is a species of moth in the family Psychidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North Island. It has been observed at Karikari, Paihia, in the Poor Knights Islands, and in the Auckland and Wellington regions. The species inhabits native forest and coastal areas where it can be found on rocky outcrops and cliffs. Larvae consume algae and lichens. The adults are on the wing from September to March and are active before sunrise.
Charixena iridoxa, also known as the Astelia zig-zag moth, is a moth of the family Plutellidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1916. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North, South and Stewart Islands. The life cycle of this moth is at least two years in length with the larvae inhabiting the bulb of its host plants and mining the underside of its leaves. These mines have a distinctive zig-zag appearance and can be easily recognised when looked for on the host plants. The larvae pupate in a cocoon attached to the leaf and this stage takes place between February and August. The adult moths emerge in the early spring and are fast, day flying moths. Their larval hosts are plants in the genus Astelia and include Astelia fragrans and Astelia nervosa.
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.
Glaucocharis lepidella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1866. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Island. The species inhabits lowland to subalpine native forest. Larvae may feed on mosses. Adults are on the wing from November to February and are attracted to light.
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.
Tingena letharga is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Otago. Adults are on the wing in December and January.
Tingena melanamma is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Marlborough, Otago and Southland.
Tingena pharmactis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Nelson, Tasman and Wellington regions. The adults of this species are on the wing in December.
Tingena phegophylla is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. This species inhabits native beech forest. The adults of this species are on the wing in December.
Atomotricha versuta is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1914. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. The adults of the species are variable in appearance but the three principal variteis are connected b intermediate forms. The female of the species is brachypterous and is incapable of flight. Both the adult male and female have been observed resting on fences during cold winter nights.
Orthenches chlorocoma is a moth of the family Plutellidae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species feed on native broom species in the genus Carmichaelia including Carmichaelia australis. Adults are on the wing in September, October and February.
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