Dasyuris austrina
| Dasyuris austrina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female | |
 | |
| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Dasyuris |
| Species: | D. austrina |
| Binomial name | |
| Dasyuris austrina | |
Dasyuris austrina is a species of moth in the family Geometridae.[1] This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1928. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South Island. It frequents fellfield habitat in subalpine to alpine zones at altitudes from 1200 to 1400 m. Adults are day flying and are on the wing from October until January. Adults likely pollinate the flowers of Gaultheria nubicola and Gentianella corymbifera. The larvae of this species are associated with Styphelia nesophila. and have also been found on species in the genus Anisotome.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1928.[2] Later in 1928. George Hudson discussed this species as a small variety of D. hectori.[3] In 1939 Hudson discussed this species as a synonym of Dasyuris hectori and stated that this view was shared by Edward Meyrick.[4] In 1988 John S. Dugdale agreed with Philpott pointing out that D. austrina is distinct from D. hectori as its genitalia differs and there exists no intermedia forms to show a series of specimens that link the two species.[5] The male holotype, collected by Alfred Philpott at Bold Peak in the Humboldt Mountains, is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[5]
Description
Philpott described this species as follows:
♂. 30 mm. Head white densely mixed with black. Palpi ochreous-white mixed with black. Antennae greyish-black. Thorax and abdomen black mixed with whitish. Legs ochreous, strongly infuscated, tarsi annulated with ochreous. Forewings strongly arched at base, apex obtuse, termen slightly rounded, oblique; greyish-fuscous, densely irrorated with bluish-white on basal ⅔; an indistinct irregular basal line; first line at ⅓, irregularly dentate, fuscous; a round fuscous discal spot; second line at ⅔, fairly broad, fuscous, indented above and below middle, posteriorly margined with whitish; an obscure thin irregular subterminal white line: fringes white barred with fuscous and with a fuscous basal line. Hindwings coloured as forewings, all lines except basal present, but straighter than in forewings: fringes whitish mixed with fuscous, clear white round apex. Undersides ochreous-white with four thin lines and narrow terminal margin black.[2]
Philpott pointed out that this species resembles D. hectori but is much smaller, paler in colour and has different undersides.[2]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island.[6]
Habitat and hosts
This species frequents fellfield habitat in subalpine to alpine zones at altitudes from 1200 to 1400 m.[7][8] The larvae of this species are associated with Styphelia nesophila.[8] Larvae have also been found on species in the genus Anisotome.[9]
Behaviour
Adults are on the wing from October until January.[8][2] Adults have had Gaultheria nubicola and Gentianella corymbifera pollen collected from them, implying that adults of this moth species helps pollinate those plants.[10]
References
- 1 2 Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 459. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. LCCN 2011379669. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- 1 2 3 4 Alfred Philpott (19 March 1928). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 359–360. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q109524279.
- ↑ Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 128, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286 BHL page 61899739
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - ↑ Hudson, G. V. (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 411, OCLC 9742724, Wikidata Q109420935
- 1 2 Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 178. doi:10.7931/j2/fnz.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ↑ "Dasyuris austrina Philpott, 1928". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ↑ "Obelisk Station Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review: Conservation Resources Report - Part 4". www.linz.govt.nz. Land Information New Zealand. December 2010. p. 10. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- 1 2 3 Brian H. Patrick (1991). "Insects of the Dansey Ecological District" (PDF). Science & Research Series. 32: 1–25. ISSN 0113-3713. OCLC 154612987. Wikidata Q110318301. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2021.
- ↑ Brian H. Patrick; Brian M. Lyford; John B. Ward; Barbara I.P. Barratt (December 1992). "Lepidoptera and other insects of the Rastus Burn Basin, The Remarkables, Otago". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 22 (4): 265–278. doi:10.1080/03036758.1992.10420820. ISSN 0303-6758. Wikidata Q60326057.
- ↑ Max Nicholas Buxton; Barbara J. Anderson; Janice Lord, The secret service – analysis of the available knowledge on moths as pollinators in New Zealand (in English and Māori), New Zealand Journal of Ecology, doi:10.20417/nzjecol.42.11, Wikidata Q46074280