This species was first described by William Warren in 1895 and originally named Polygonia variabilis.[1] In 1970 Robert W. Poole placed this species in the genus Ischalis.[5]
There are two to three distinct transverse lines on the forewing.[6] Both sexes have four discal spots which are usually visible dorsally as well as ventrally. Adults have been recorded year round, except June on the North Island. The main flight period is September to March.[7] There seem to be two generations per year, but may breed continuously during mild winters.[4] The adult moths can be collected by beating the skirt of the dead fronds of their host species.[7]
The eggs are usually deposited in January and February. They are almost hemispherical, slightly ovate, flattened, pale bluish-green in colour, covered with numerous very slight hexagonal depressions. As the enclosed embryo develops, small irregular reddish-brown patches appear on the surface of the egg-shell.[8]
Host speciesedit
The larvae have been recorded feeding on Cyathea and Dicksonia species including Cyathea smithii, Cyathea dealbata and Dicksonia squarrosa.[9][7] First-instar larvae are very pale ochreous brown, with two wavy orange-red subdorsal lines. Full-grown larvae are about 32 mm long and pale rusty brown with an obscure pale-brown dorsal line.[7] The larvae feed at night.[7] Pupation takes place in a pupa enclosed in a curled fern leaf or hidden amongst leaf litter on the ground.[4]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ischalis variabilis.
Wikispecies has information related to Ischalis variabilis.
^ abc"Ischalis variabilis (Warren, 1895)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
^Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 459. ISBN978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
^ abcWeintraub, Jason D.; Scoble, Malcolm J. (29 April 2004). "Lithinini (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae)". Fauna of New Zealand. 49: 1–48. ISSN 1179-7193. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
^Warren, William (1895). "New species and genera of Geometridae in the Tring Museum". Novitates Zoologicae. 2: 82–159 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
^ abcdeAndrew Crowe (2004). Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns: Featuring the unique caterpillars which feed on them. p. 27. ISBN0-14-301924-4. Wikidata Q115211440.
^Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 148.
^Moeed, Abdul; Meads, M. J. (1983). "Invertebrate fauna of four tree species in Orongorongo Valley, New Zealand, as revealed by trunk traps" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 6: 39–53.
This Ennominae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
ischalis, variabilis, also, known, oblique, waved, fern, looper, species, moth, family, geometridae, first, described, william, warren, 1895, endemic, zealand, where, widespread, north, south, islands, female, male, scientific, classification, kingdom, animali. Ischalis variabilis also known as oblique waved fern looper is a species of moth in the family Geometridae first described by William Warren in 1895 3 2 It is endemic to New Zealand 1 where it is widespread in the North and South islands 4 Ischalis variabilis Female Male Scientific classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Lepidoptera Family Geometridae Genus Ischalis Species I variabilis Binomial name Ischalis variabilis Warren 1895 1 Synonyms 2 Polygonia variabilis Warren 1895Gonophylla ophiopa Meyrick 1897Azelina variabilis Warren 1895 Azelina ophiopa Meyrick 1897 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Host species 4 ReferencesTaxonomy editThis species was first described by William Warren in 1895 and originally named Polygonia variabilis 1 In 1970 Robert W Poole placed this species in the genus Ischalis 5 Description edit nbsp I variabilis at Otari Wilton s Bush Wellington There are two to three distinct transverse lines on the forewing 6 Both sexes have four discal spots which are usually visible dorsally as well as ventrally Adults have been recorded year round except June on the North Island The main flight period is September to March 7 There seem to be two generations per year but may breed continuously during mild winters 4 The adult moths can be collected by beating the skirt of the dead fronds of their host species 7 The eggs are usually deposited in January and February They are almost hemispherical slightly ovate flattened pale bluish green in colour covered with numerous very slight hexagonal depressions As the enclosed embryo develops small irregular reddish brown patches appear on the surface of the egg shell 8 Host species editThe larvae have been recorded feeding on Cyathea and Dicksonia species including Cyathea smithii Cyathea dealbata and Dicksonia squarrosa 9 7 First instar larvae are very pale ochreous brown with two wavy orange red subdorsal lines Full grown larvae are about 32 mm long and pale rusty brown with an obscure pale brown dorsal line 7 The larvae feed at night 7 Pupation takes place in a pupa enclosed in a curled fern leaf or hidden amongst leaf litter on the ground 4 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ischalis variabilis nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Ischalis variabilis a b c Ischalis variabilis Warren 1895 www nzor org nz Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd Retrieved 27 January 2017 a b John Stewart Dugdale 23 September 1988 Lepidoptera annotated catalogue and keys to family group taxa Fauna of New Zealand 14 Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 166 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 OCLC 973607714 OL 25288394M Wikidata Q45922947 a b c Weintraub Jason D Scoble Malcolm J 29 April 2004 Lithinini Insecta Lepidoptera Geometridae Ennominae Fauna of New Zealand 49 1 48 ISSN 1179 7193 Retrieved 27 January 2017 Robert W Poole 1970 Transfer of four New Zealand geometrids from the genus Azelina Lepidoptera Geometridae Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 72 1 135 ISSN 0013 8797 Wikidata Q123614994 Warren William 1895 New species and genera of Geometridae in the Tring Museum Novitates Zoologicae 2 82 159 via Biodiversity Heritage Library a b c d e Andrew Crowe 2004 Life Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns Featuring the unique caterpillars which feed on them p 27 ISBN 0 14 301924 4 Wikidata Q115211440 Hudson G V 1928 The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand Wellington Ferguson amp Osborn Ltd p 148 Moeed Abdul Meads M J 1983 Invertebrate fauna of four tree species in Orongorongo Valley New Zealand as revealed by trunk traps PDF New Zealand Journal of Ecology 6 39 53 nbsp This Ennominae related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ischalis variabilis amp oldid 1210970928, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
