Austrocidaria umbrosa is a species of moth of the family Geometridae.[2] It endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island in Fiordland. Adults have been recorded as being on the wing in December, January and March. They are nocturnal and have been collected on and around Dracophyllum longifolium.
| Austrocidaria umbrosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female | |
| |
| Male | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Austrocidaria |
| Species: | A. umbrosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Austrocidaria umbrosa | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Taxonomy
editThis species was first described in 1917 by Alfred Philpott using specimens collected at Mount Cleughearn in Fiordland at around 3,250 ft and named Xanthorhoe umbrosa.[3] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[4] In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Austrocidaria.[2] The male holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[2]
Description
edit
Philpott described this species as follows:
♂♀. 33-40 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax dull-greenish, tinged with ochreous and sprinkled with blackish. Antennae moderately bipectinated, brownish-ochreous. Abdomen ochreous-grey with paired black dorsal dots on each segment. Forewings triangular, costa almost straight, termen waved, bowed, oblique; dull green, ochreous-tinged; veins interruptedly outlined in black; numerous obscure irregularly-dentate fuscous transverse fasciae ; five of these fasciae, having the interspaces suffused with fuscous, form the median band, anterior margin of which is irregularly curved from 1⁄3 costa to 1⁄3 dorsum, the posterior margin, from 2⁄3 costa to 2⁄3 dorsum, has a moderate blunt double projection at middle; a black discal dot; an obscure waved pale subterminal line, suffusedly margined with fuscous anteriorly; a waved black terminal line : cilia greenish-grey, mixed and suffusedly barred with fuscous, and with a pale median line. Hindwings with termen rounded, crenate; greenish-grey; the markings of the forewings faintly reproduced but less curved and dentate; a prominent black crenate terminal line : cilia as in forewings. Undersides grey, with fuscous markings of upper sides clearly shown.[3]
This species is similar in appearance to Austrocidaria cedrinodes but can be distinguished as a result of its larger size.[3]
Distribution
editA. umbrosa is endemic to New Zealand.[1] This species has been observed only in the South Island, in Fiordland.[4][5][6][7]
Behaviour
edit
Adults of this species have been recorded as being on the wing in December, January and March.[4][8] They are nocturnal and have an affinity for Dracophyllum longifolium.[4]
References
edit
- ^ a b "Austrocidaria umbrosa (Philpott, 1917)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ a b c d Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 175. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b c Alfred Philpott (December 1917). "Art. XIII. - Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 49: 241. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q108312592.
- ^ a b c d Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 115, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286
- ^ George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 409, OCLC 9742724, Wikidata Q109420935
- ^ Clarke, Charles E. (February 1933). "The Lepidoptera of the Te Anau-Manapouri Lakes Districts". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 63 (2): 112–132. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q62934927.
- ^ W George Howes (1943). "Lepidoptera Collecting at the Homer. With Descriptions of Two New Species" (PDF). Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 73: 90–96. ISSN 1176-6166. Wikidata Q89182730.
- ^ "Austrocidaria umbrosa". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2024-12-16.