Biology:Graphania averilla
| Graphania averilla | |
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| Species: | G. averilla
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| Graphania averilla (Hudson, 1921)[1]
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Graphania averilla is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.[1]
Discovery and taxonomy
Graphania averilla was first described by George Hudson in 1921 under the name Melanchra averill.[2] The moth was discovered by Averil Lysaght in December 1920 on Mount Egmont.[2] Alfred Philpott also described this species in 1924 under the name Melanchra furtiva from specimens collected around Mount Arthur as well as in the mountainous areas near Lake Wakatipu.[3] In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Graphania and recognised Melanchra furtiva as a new synonym.[4] In 2019 Robert J. B. Hoare published a paper in which he undertook a major review of New Zealand noctuids. Hoare, having inspected the type specimens of this species, placed it within the genus Ichneutica.[5]
Description
Graphania averilla is a medium-sized moth. The forewings of this species are pinkish brown coloured, tinged with grey and have dark markings with a notable streak running lengthwise from the forewing base. There is also a distinctive v-shaped dark mark on the posterior corner of the wing. The hind wings of this species are greyish brown in colour.[2]
Distribution
Graphania averilla inhabits mountainous country[4] and has been collected on Mount Egmont,[2] Mount Arthur, around Ben Lomond, Elfin Bay, Lake Luna and Lake MacKenzie in Otago,[3] and at the Cass Basin in the Waimakariri River catchment.[6] The adult moths can be found on the wing in November and December,[3] and have also been recorded in January and February.[6]
Host plants
The larvae of Graphania averilla have been found to feed on the Plantago genus of plants.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Graphania averilla (Hudson, 1921)". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/71ad826f-d4b5-400e-9a52-2b164df63944.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hudson, George Vernon (1921). "Description of a new species of the lepidopterous genus Melanchra Hübn. from New Zealand". Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 57: 255. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/36035#page/327/mode/1up.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Philpott, Alfred. "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera.". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 55: 663–664. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33682018#page/749/mode/1up.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Dugdale, J.S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa.". Fauna of New Zealand 14: 202. https://www.biotaxa.org/fnz/article/view/1754/2889.
- ↑ Hoare, Robert J. B. (2019-12-09). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 2: Nivetica, Ichneutica". Fauna of New Zealand 80: 1–455. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.80. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q94481265.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 White, E. G.. "The changing abundance of moths in a tussock grassland, 1962–1989, and 50-to 70-year trends.". New Zealand Journal of Ecology 1991: 5–22.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q13497952 entry
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