Planotortrix avicenniae is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the North Island and its larvae feed on mangrove trees.
| Planotortrix avicenniae | |
|---|---|
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| Planotortrix avicenniae in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC) - Ko te Aitanga Pepeke o Aotearoa | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Genus: | Planotortrix |
| Species: | P. avicenniae
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| Binomial name | |
| Planotortrix avicenniae | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy and etymology
editThis species was first described in 1990 by John S. Dugdale.[1][2] The holotype specimen in held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. The species name refers to Avicennia, the genus of the larval host plant.[2]
Description
editThe female of the species can be difficult to distinguish from the females of P. excessana and P. octo.[2] However the larvae of P. avicenniae are distinctive.[2] Unlike the green headed and bodied larvae of P. excessana and P. octo they are grey greenish in colour with a brownish head.[2]
Distribution
editThis species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][3] It has only been observed in the North Island in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel, and the Bay of Plenty.[2]
Biology and behaviour
editThe larvae of this species web together and feed on the leaves of their host plant.[4]
Habitat and host species
editThe larvae feed only on the mangrove tree species Avicennia marina.[4][5]
References
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- ^ a b c "Planotortrix avicenniae Dugdale, 1990". www.nzor.org.nz. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Dugdale, J. S. (1990-07-01). "Reassessment of Ctenopseustis Meyrick and Planotortrix Dugdale with descriptions of two new genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 17 (3): 437–465. doi:10.1080/03014223.1990.10422943.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 464. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ a b "Planotortrix avicenniae Dugdale, 1990 Herbivore report". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ Allison, Jeremy D.; Carde, Ring T., eds. (2016). Pheromone communication in moths : evolution, behavior, and application. Oakland, California: University of California Press. p. 279. ISBN 9780520964433. OCLC 935885049.