Pseudocoremia fascialata
| Pseudocoremia fascialata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female | |
 | |
| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Pseudocoremia |
| Species: | P. fascialata |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudocoremia fascialata | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Pseudocoremia fascialata, also known as the Horopito flash, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae.[3] It was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1903. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species inhabits native forest. Adults are on the wing from December until April and are attracted to light. Larvae feed on a variety of native trees and shrubs including Pseudowinteria axillaris and Pseudowinteria colorata.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1903 and originally named Selidosema fascialata.[4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under that name.[5] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned the species to the genus Pseudocoremia.[2] The male lectotype, collected by Philpott collected at South Plains in Southland, is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[2]
Description
Philpott described this species as follows:
♂, ♀. 35-38 mm. Head and thorax dull-brownish. Abdomen pale - yellow. Fore wings rich dark - brown irrorated with darker ; a yellowish- white convex band at 1⁄4, anteriorly somewhat suffused ; space from 1⁄4 to 2⁄3 occupied by a broad blackish - brown band, posteriorly deeply indented above middle, and broadly margined with an irregular yellowish-white suffusion ; a subterminal serrate white line, interrupted in middle, broadly and irregularly margined with blackish-brown ; a subapical triangular patch margined below with blackish-brown ; a row of minute black spots on termen. Hind wings yellow, with a few scattered dark scales, and sometimes a row of black dots on termen.[4]
Philpott noted that the female is paler in colouration. He stated that this species differs from P. productata as P. fascialata has more pronounced markings and a deep indentation in the posterior margin of the median band.[4]
Distribution
It is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It has been observed in the North, South and Stewart Islands.[5]
Habitat and hosts
P. fascialata frequents native forest.[5] Larvae feed on a variety of native trees and shrubs including Pseudowinteria axillaris and Pseudowinteria colorata.[6]
Behaviour
Adults of this species are on the wing from December to April.[7] They are attracted to light and have been collected via a mercury vapour light trap.[8] Adults have shown an affinity for the species Jacobaea vulgaris.[5]
References
- 1 2 "Pseudocoremia fascialata (Philpott, 1903)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
- 1 2 3 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: 167. doi:10.7931/j2/fnz.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ↑ 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 Alfred Philpott (July 1903). "On some New Species of Lepidoptera (Moths) from Southland". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 35: 248–249. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q110737345. BHL page 3295336
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - 1 2 3 4 Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 139, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286 BHL page 61899750 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ Andrew Crowe (2017). Which New Zealand insect?. Auckland: Penguin Books. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-14-100636-9. LCCN 2003386434. OCLC 52477325. OL 3731007M. Wikidata Q105622564.
- ↑ "Pseudocoremia fascialata". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ B. H. Patrick; R. D. Archibald (January 1988). "Lepidoptera light-trapped at Owaka, South Otago". New Zealand Entomologist. 11 (1): 70–72. doi:10.1080/00779962.1988.9722541. ISSN 0077-9962. Wikidata Q105740584.