Notoreas isomoera

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Notoreas isomoera
Female
Male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Notoreas
Species:
N. isomoera
Binomial name
Notoreas isomoera
Prout, 1939[1]

Notoreas isomoera is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy[edit]

This species was first described in 1939 by Louis Beethoven Prout using material collected at Ben Lomond near Queenstown (male holotype) and at The Obelisk in the Old Man Range / Kopuwai in Otago (female allotype) by George Howes.[1][2][3] The genus Notoreas was reviewed in 1986 by R. C. Craw and the placement of this species within it was confirmed.[4] However species within the genus Notoreas are currently regarded as being in need of revision.[5] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[3]

Description[edit]

Prout described the species as follows:

22—23 mm. Very near isoleuca, so determined in the Howes collection. Pectinations of ♂︎ slightly shorter. Markings broader, yellower; forewing with median line definitely and the postmedian rather acutely angled, subterminal extremely slight except anteriorly and as a dot in cellule 3; hindwing with similar distinctions.[2]

Distribution[edit]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][6] This species has been found in Otago.[2]

Life cycle and behaviour[edit]

The female moth lays her eggs within the flower buds of their host plant.[7] When the larvae emerge from their eggs, they eat into the leaves or buds of their host, hiding from predators.[7] Once they are large enough, they emerge to feed from the fresh growth of the plant.[7] N. isomoera pupate in a loose cocoon on the ground under their host.[7] N. isomoera are day-flying moths.[7] They are low but fast flyers and constantly vibrate their wings to enable them to take off rapidly.[7]

Host species[edit]

The host plants for the larvae of N. isomoera are endemic species within the genera Pimelea and Kelleria.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Notoreas isomoera Prout, 1939". www.nzor.org.nz. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Prout, L. B. (1939). "Geometridae: Fauna Indo-Australica". The Macrolepidoptera of the World. 12: 237–292 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ^ a b Dugdale, John S. (23 September 1988). Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa (PDF). Vol. 14. pp. 1–264. ISBN 978-0-477-02518-8 – via Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Craw, R.C. (5 January 2012). "Review of the genus Notoreas (sensu auctorum) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 13 (1): 131–140. doi:10.1080/03014223.1986.10422654.
  5. ^ Hoare, R. J. B; Rhode, B.E.; Emmerson, A.W. (2011). "Larger moths of New Zealand: Image gallery and online guide". Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  6. ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 460. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Patrick, Brian (Autumn 2015). "Discovering New Zealand's gorgeous moths" (PDF). Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. New Zealand: Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand Trust. p. 13. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  8. ^ Patrick, Brian (Autumn 2015). "Discovering New Zealand's gorgeous moths" (PDF). Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. New Zealand: Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand Trust. p. 13. Retrieved 8 December 2018.