Ichneutica moderata is a moth of the family Noctuidae.[2] This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the Bay of Plenty south including the Chatham Islands. I. moderata inhabits open spaces in lowland to montane zones. Larvae likely feed on a variety of low growing herbaceous plants including on Raoulia species. Larvae create silk covered tunnels in the roots of their host plants. Pupa are enclosed in a loose silken cocoons and are sheltered amongst the host species roots. The adult moths are on the wing from October to April.
This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1865 using specimens collected in Nelson by Mr T. R. Oxley.[3][1] Walker was unsure of the genus and so named the species Agrotis? moderata.[3] The lectotype specimen is held by the Natural History Museum, London.[4]Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer also described this species, thinking it new, in 1875 and named it Mamestra griseipennis.[5] This name was synonymised with Aletia moderata by J. S. Dugdale in 1988.[4] In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae.[1] During this review the genus Ichneutica was greatly expanded and the genus Aletia was subsumed into that genus as a synonym.[1] As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica moderata.[1]
Descriptionedit
Ichneutica moderata showing the diagnostic creamy white fringe on the hindwings.
Walker described this species as follows:
Male and female. Dark cinereous, cinereous beneath. Palpi slightly ascending, extending a little beyond the head ; second joint densely pilose ; third elongate-conical, not more than one-third of the length of the second. Antennae of the male pubescent, setulose. Abdomen of the male extending rather beyond the hind wings; apical tuft subquadrate. Fore wings with four irregular lines composed of black lunules; first and second lines on the inner side of a diffuse blackish band; third and fourth beyond the band, undulating, approximate to each other ; submarginal line cinereous, dentate, continued in the male to the exterior border; marginal lunules black. Hind wings brown ; fringe pale cinereous. Length of the body 8 — 9 lines ; of the wings 19 — 20 lines.[3]
The adult male of the species has a wingspan of between 33 and 38 mm, the female has a wingspan of between 36 and 43 mm.[1] This species is nondescript but can be distinguished from other similar appearing species as both the male and female have unmarked creamy white fringes on their hindwings.[1]
Hudson described the larvae of the species as follows:
The length of the full-grown larva is about 1+3⁄8 (35 mm.), stout, cylindrical, slightly tapering at each end; back pale dull reddish; sides dull greenish, speckled and suffused with blackish; underside clear, pale, dull green. Head ochreous-brown, with two conspicuous blackish-brown stripes; thoracic segments pale greenish-brown; second segment with elongate-oval blackish-brown horny dorsal plate; other thoracic segments with rudimentary dorsal plates. General surface somewhat wrinkled. A conspicuous series of trapezoidal black marks on the back of segments 5-11, faintly posteriorly; segments 12 and 13 darker on back; a narrow, pale reddish dorsal line; a double series of highly polished warts on each abdominal segment, except the last, and a single series on each thoracic segment. Spiracles black.[6]
Distributionedit
This species is found throughout New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands, with the only exception being the northern part of the North Island, that is Bay of Plenty north.[1]
Habitatedit
I. moderata prefers open habitats in the montane to lowlands zones.[1]
Behaviouredit
Adults of this species are on the wing from October to April.[1]
Life history and host speciesedit
Raoulia australis
The larvae of this species likely feed on various kinds of low growing herbaceous plants.[1] However I. moderata larvae are recorded as being associated with Raoulia particularly the speciesR. australis, R. subulata and R. beauverdii as well as Crassula manaia.[1] Larvae have also been reared on Bellis perennis.[1] Larvae create tunnels lined with silk amongst the roots of the species' host plants.[1] Pupa are enclosed in an insubstantial and easily damaged silken cocoon amongst the roots.[6]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ichneutica moderata.
^ abcdefghijklmnHoare, Robert J. B. (9 December 2019). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 2: Nivetica, Ichneutica". Fauna of New Zealand. 80: 1–455. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.80.
^ abcGray, John Edward; Walker, Francis (1865). List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum /. Vol. 32. London: Trustees of the British Museum. pp. 705–706. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.58221.
^ abDugdale, J. S. (1988). (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 200. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
^Felder, Cajetan; Rogenhofer, Alois Friedrich (1875). Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von W. Wien: Kaiserlich. pp. pl. CIX fig. 22. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.1597.
^ abHudson, George Vernon (1950). Fragments of New Zealand entomology : a popular account of all the New Zealand cicadas : the natural history of the New Zealand glow-worm : a second supplement to The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, and notes on many other native insects. Wellington, N.Z.: Ferguson & Osborn. p. 76. OCLC 154155584.
January 01, 1970
ichneutica, moderata, moth, family, noctuidae, this, species, endemic, zealand, found, from, plenty, south, including, chatham, islands, moderata, inhabits, open, spaces, lowland, montane, zones, larvae, likely, feed, variety, growing, herbaceous, plants, incl. Ichneutica moderata is a moth of the family Noctuidae 2 This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the Bay of Plenty south including the Chatham Islands I moderata inhabits open spaces in lowland to montane zones Larvae likely feed on a variety of low growing herbaceous plants including on Raoulia species Larvae create silk covered tunnels in the roots of their host plants Pupa are enclosed in a loose silken cocoons and are sheltered amongst the host species roots The adult moths are on the wing from October to April Ichneutica moderata Female Male Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Lepidoptera Superfamily Noctuoidea Family Noctuidae Genus Ichneutica Species I moderata Binomial name Ichneutica moderata Walker 1865 Synonyms 1 Agrotis moderata Walker 1858Mamestra griseipennis Felder amp Rogenhofer 1875Aletia moderata Walker 1858 Graphania moderata Walker 1858 Graphania griseipennis Felder amp Rogenhofer 1875 Aletia s l moderata Walker 1858 Mythimna moderata Walker 1858 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution 4 Habitat 5 Behaviour 6 Life history and host species 7 ReferencesTaxonomy editThis species was first described by Francis Walker in 1865 using specimens collected in Nelson by Mr T R Oxley 3 1 Walker was unsure of the genus and so named the species Agrotis moderata 3 The lectotype specimen is held by the Natural History Museum London 4 Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer also described this species thinking it new in 1875 and named it Mamestra griseipennis 5 This name was synonymised with Aletia moderata by J S Dugdale in 1988 4 In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae 1 During this review the genus Ichneutica was greatly expanded and the genus Aletia was subsumed into that genus as a synonym 1 As a result of this review this species is now known as Ichneutica moderata 1 Description edit nbsp Ichneutica moderata showing the diagnostic creamy white fringe on the hindwings Walker described this species as follows Male and female Dark cinereous cinereous beneath Palpi slightly ascending extending a little beyond the head second joint densely pilose third elongate conical not more than one third of the length of the second Antennae of the male pubescent setulose Abdomen of the male extending rather beyond the hind wings apical tuft subquadrate Fore wings with four irregular lines composed of black lunules first and second lines on the inner side of a diffuse blackish band third and fourth beyond the band undulating approximate to each other submarginal line cinereous dentate continued in the male to the exterior border marginal lunules black Hind wings brown fringe pale cinereous Length of the body 8 9 lines of the wings 19 20 lines 3 The adult male of the species has a wingspan of between 33 and 38 mm the female has a wingspan of between 36 and 43 mm 1 This species is nondescript but can be distinguished from other similar appearing species as both the male and female have unmarked creamy white fringes on their hindwings 1 Hudson described the larvae of the species as follows The length of the full grown larva is about 1 3 8 35 mm stout cylindrical slightly tapering at each end back pale dull reddish sides dull greenish speckled and suffused with blackish underside clear pale dull green Head ochreous brown with two conspicuous blackish brown stripes thoracic segments pale greenish brown second segment with elongate oval blackish brown horny dorsal plate other thoracic segments with rudimentary dorsal plates General surface somewhat wrinkled A conspicuous series of trapezoidal black marks on the back of segments 5 11 faintly posteriorly segments 12 and 13 darker on back a narrow pale reddish dorsal line a double series of highly polished warts on each abdominal segment except the last and a single series on each thoracic segment Spiracles black 6 Distribution editThis species is found throughout New Zealand including the Chatham Islands with the only exception being the northern part of the North Island that is Bay of Plenty north 1 Habitat editI moderata prefers open habitats in the montane to lowlands zones 1 Behaviour editAdults of this species are on the wing from October to April 1 Life history and host species edit nbsp Raoulia australis The larvae of this species likely feed on various kinds of low growing herbaceous plants 1 However I moderata larvae are recorded as being associated with Raoulia particularly the species R australis R subulata and R beauverdii as well as Crassula manaia 1 Larvae have also been reared on Bellis perennis 1 Larvae create tunnels lined with silk amongst the roots of the species host plants 1 Pupa are enclosed in an insubstantial and easily damaged silken cocoon amongst the roots 6 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ichneutica moderata a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Hoare Robert J B 9 December 2019 Noctuinae Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuidae part 2 Nivetica Ichneutica Fauna of New Zealand 80 1 455 doi 10 7931 J2 FNZ 80 Ichneutica moderata Walker 1865 www nzor org nz Retrieved 2021 07 20 a b c Gray John Edward Walker Francis 1865 List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum Vol 32 London Trustees of the British Museum pp 705 706 doi 10 5962 bhl title 58221 a b Dugdale J S 1988 Lepidoptera annotated catalogue and keys to family group taxa PDF Fauna of New Zealand 14 200 Archived from the original PDF on 27 January 2019 Retrieved 24 January 2018 Felder Cajetan Rogenhofer Alois Friedrich 1875 Reise der osterreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857 1858 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B von W Wien Kaiserlich pp pl CIX fig 22 doi 10 5962 bhl title 1597 a b Hudson George Vernon 1950 Fragments of New Zealand entomology a popular account of all the New Zealand cicadas the natural history of the New Zealand glow worm a second supplement to The butterflies and moths of New Zealand and notes on many other native insects Wellington N Z Ferguson amp Osborn p 76 OCLC 154155584 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ichneutica moderata amp oldid 1205541052, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
