Tmetolophota blenheimensis

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Tmetolophota blenheimensis
Tmetolophota blenheimensis male.jpg
Male
Tmetolophota blenheimensis female.jpg
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Tmetolophota
Species:
T. blenheimensis
Binomial name
Tmetolophota blenheimensis
(Fereday, 1883) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Leucania blenheimensisFereday, 1883
  • Graphania blenheimensis(Fereday, 1883)

Tmetolophota blenheimensis is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was described by Richard William Fereday in 1883 using a female specimen collected by William Skellon in Meanee near Napier. [3] [4] Fereday named the species Leucania blenheimensis. [4] In 1887 Edward Meyrick described the male of the species. [5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under this name in both his 1898 and 1928 publications. [6] [7] In 1971 John S. Dugdale transferred all the New Zealand species in the genus Leucania to the genus Tmetolophota. [4] [8] The lectotype specimen is held at the Canterbury Museum. [4] In 2019 Robert J. B. Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand noctuids. Hoare, having inspected the type material of this species, placed it within the genus Ichneutica. [9]

Description

Hudson described the species as follows:

The expansion of the wings is about ​1 1⁄2 inches. The fore-wings are cream-coloured with the veins darker ; there are three faint black dots at about one-third, a curved series of black dots near the termen, the termen itself being strongly shaded with dark greyish-brown; the cilia are dark greyish- brown. The hind-wings are grey, paler towards the base ; the cilia are also grey. [6]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [10] The range of this species covers the Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, Dunedin, Otago Lakes, Southland and the Stewart Island regions. [11] Along with the type locality of Meanee, specimens have also been collected at the Denniston plateau, [12] Blenheim, [3] Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu and Routeburn. [7]

Biology and behaviour

This species is on the wing from November to March. [7] It has been collected via sugar traps. [3]

Host species and habitat

This host plant for the larvae of this species is likely to be the golden sand sedge pīngao which is now absent from the moths type locality. [11]

Conservation Status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ichneutica</i> Genus of moths, endemic to New Zealand

Ichneutica is a genus of cutworm or dart moths in the family Noctuidae, found in New Zealand and surrounding islands. There are more than 80 described species in Ichneutica, the largest known genus of Lepidoptera in New Zealand. In 2019 this genus was revised and greatly expanded with the genera Graphania Hampson, 1905, Tmetolophota Hampson, 1905 and Dipaustica Meyrick, 1912 all subsumed within it.

<i>Physetica phricias</i> Species of moth

Physetica phricias is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is wide spread in the South Island and inhabits shrubland. The host of the larvae of this species is matagouri. The adult moths are on the wing from September to May and July.

<i>Tmetolophota sulcana</i> Species of moth

Tmetolophota sulcana is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Tmetolophota unica</i> Species of moth

Tmetolophota unica is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is very similar in appearance to its close relative Tmetolophota phaula.

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

Ichneutica purdii, the orange astelia wainscot, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found throughout the main islands of New Zealand. I. purdii is a relatively large, colourful moth, unlikely to be confused with any other endemic moth species in New Zealand. The larvae of this moth feed at night on species of Astelia. During the day they shelter in the interior of the plant. When fully grown the larvae can reach a length of approximately 48mm. The larvae are ocherous in colour with a pink flush with line markings but when ready to pupate these markings fade and the larvae take on a light golden hue with a rosy tinge to its rear segments. The deep wine coloured pupa is enclosed in a slight cocoon, with this being constructed below the soil, amongst debris or alternatively within a hollow stick. The adult moths are on the wing from October to March. Although this moth is found throughout the main islands of New Zealand it is more frequent in the south of New Zealand at higher altitudes of up to 1200m.

<i>Chersadaula ochrogastra</i> Species of moth

Chersadaula ochrogastra is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

Cadmogenes is a genus of moths of the family Plutellidae. It contains only one species, Cadmogenes literata, which is found in New Zealand. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It has been classified as "Not Threatened" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Aletia cuneata</i>

Aletia cuneata is a moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and pollinates native species such as Myosotis macrantha.

<i>Aletia dentata</i>

Aletia dentata is a moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Aletia fibriata</i>

Aletia fibriata is a moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. Specimens of this moth were first collected by Frederick Giles Gibbs. Adults frequent alpine areas at about 4,500 feet and are on the wing in December.

<i>Asaphodes obarata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Asaphodes obarata is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Austrocidaria arenosa</i>

Austrocidaria arenosa is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is classified as "At Risk, Declining" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Dasyuris partheniata</i>

Dasyuris partheniata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Declining" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Asaphodes chlorocapna</i>

Asaphodes chlorocapna is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Meterana grandiosa</i> Species of moth

Meterana grandiosa is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Paranotoreas fulva</i> Species of moth

Paranotoreas fulva is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict" by the Department of Conservation.

Aletia cyanopetra is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

Tingena loxotis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Aletia inconstans</i> Species of moth

Aletia inconstans is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in both the North and South Islands but is considered a rare species.

<i>Aletia argentaria</i>

Aletia argentaria is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in Southland.

References

  1. 1 2 "Tmetolophota blenheimensis (Fereday, 1883)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  2. ↑ "blenheimensis - Taxonomy". insectoid.info. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Fereday, R. W. (1883). "Description of two new species of Heteropterous Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 15: 195–196 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 209 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
  5. ↑ Meyrick, Edward (1887). "Monograph of New Zealand Noctuina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 19: 3–40 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  6. 1 2 Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & Co. p. 13. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.32466. OCLC   727236768.
  7. 1 2 3 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 53. OCLC   25449322.
  8. ↑ Dugdale, J.S. (1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae" (PDF). Pacific Insects Monograph. 27: 55–172.
  9. ↑ Hoare, Robert J. B. (2019-12-09). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 2: Nivetica, Ichneutica". Fauna of New Zealand. 80: 1–455. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.80.
  10. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 461. ISBN   9781877257933. OCLC   973607714.
  11. 1 2 Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 27. ISBN   0478218672. OCLC   154670803.
  12. ↑ "Lepidoptera discoveries in high places" (PDF). Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. 1: 8. 2012.
  13. ↑ Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). "Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 9.


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