Biology:Epyaxa rosearia
| New Zealand looper | |
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Epyaxa |
| Species: | E. rosearia
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| Binomial name | |
| Epyaxa rosearia (Doubleday, 1843)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Epyaxa rosearia, the New Zealand looper or plantain moth,[2][3] is a moth of the family Geometridae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand.
Taxonomy
E. rosearia was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1843 and named Cidaria rosearia.[4][5]
Description
The eggs of this species are pale yellow and oval with a smooth shell.[6]
Alex Purdie describes the caterpillar of this species as:
Length, at rest, about three- quarters of an inch. Colour light-green, with indistinct whitish longitudinal lines, and a narrow median dorsal stripe of the ground colour, edged on each side by one of these whitish lines; a subdorsal whitish line on each side of the median stripe; the ground colour shows again as a lateral line, edged below with whitish. Under-side with delicate whitish or yellowish longitudinal tracings, as on the upper side. The junctions of the segments show yellowish or whitish rings when the larva contracts. Head, greenish-yellow. Body tapering somewhat to the head.[6]
The caterpillars form a chrysalis that is glossy and very dark brownish black.[6] They can be found amongst the leaves of the forest floor.[7] E. rosearia adults are varied in appearance. They can have a pinkish tinge or can be brownish in hue although olive green is also common.[7]
Distribution
E. rosearia are very common throughout New Zealand.[7]
Host species
While it is endemic to New Zealand,[8] the larvae have so far only been recorded feeding on exotic plant species: Nasturtium officinale, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium ambiguum, Trifolium repens and Tropaeolum majus.[9] The larvae also seem to feed on the leaves of Trifolium caucasicum.
Interaction with humans
A recent study suggests this moth may be assisting with the pollination of avocado trees.[10]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epyaxa rosearia. |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 , pp. 180, Wikidata Q45083134
- ↑ Edlin, Bob (20 April 2014). "North Island farmers report bumper summer for native plantain moth". AgScience. New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ↑ "Plantain moth". AgPest. AgResearch. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ↑ "Cidaria rosearia Doubleday, 1843". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/4b9c1d9a-bd50-401a-9438-21042e84aaa2.
- ↑ Dieffenbach, E. (1843). "List of Annulose Animals hitherto recorded as found in New Zealand with descriptions of some new species by Messrs. Adam White and Edward Doubleday". Travels in New Zealand: With Contributions to the Geography, Geology, Botany and Natural History of the Country. 2. London: John Murray. pp. 285. https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/20760262.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Purdie, A. (1885). "Life History of Epyaxa rosearia, Dbld.". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 18: 208–209. https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3299938.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Hoare, Robert J. B. (2014). A Photographic Guide to Moths & Butterflies of New Zealand. Ball, Olivier. Auckland: New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd.. pp. 95. ISBN 9781869663995. OCLC 891672034.
- ↑ "Epyaxa rosearia (Doubleday, 1843)". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/40cbb0c2-6286-487d-91db-218997fded93.
- ↑ "PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2011. http://plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz/ReportForm.aspx?RecordId=1544&Type=H&SortBy=Alpha&Biostatus=a,c,e,n.
- ↑ , Wikidata Q108352633
Wikidata ☰ Q5384072 entry
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