Adeixis griseata explained

Adeixis griseata (also known as the swamp looper) is a species of moth of the family Geometridae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the North, South and Chatham Islands. This species inhabits poorly drained or swampy areas. As at 2017 the host plant of this species is unknown however it has been hypothesised that the host plant may be Schoenus brevifolius or another common sedge. Adults have been observed on the wing from October until January.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by George Vernon Hudson in 1903 from a specimen collected by Alfred Philpott at Seaward Moss in Southland and named Dichromodes griseata.[2] There was some debate between taxonomists as to whether this species was distinct from the Australian species Adeixis inostentata. However, in 1920, after comparing specimens of both species, Philpott concluded it was distinct enough to be regarded as its own species. Louis B. Prout placed this species within the genus Adeixis in 1910.[3] The syntype specimens are not held in Te Papa but J. S. Dugdale hypothesised that one of the syntypes may be held at the Natural History Museum, London under the species name Paragyrtis inostentata (now known as Adeixis inostentata). In 2019 the molecular phylogeny of this species was studied.[4]

Description

The forewings of A. griseata are silver grey in colour with a small disk-shaped dot as well as with dark brown or blackish triangular shaped shading from the middle of the base of the forewing to its apex and a much smaller brown triangular shaped shading below this. The hind-wings are grey coloured tinged with yellow brown. When at rest its body position tends to be head downward.[5] Hudson regarded this species as being extremely variable in the intensity of its markings and the depth of its colouring.

Range

Specimens have been collected not only at the type locality of Seaward Downs but also in other locations in the South Island such as Lake Manapouri,[6] [7] as well as localities in the North Island such as in Whangārei,[8] Waimarino, Raetihi, Ohakuni and Kaitoki. A. griseata has also been found on the Chatham Islands.[9]

Behaviour

The adults of this species have been observed on the wing from October to January.[10]

Habitat

Adeixis griseata tends to inhabit poorly drained or swampy areas with sedges, rushes, Gleichenia, and native shrubs such as Pittosporum and Coprosma.[11] However as at 2017 the host plants of A. griseata is unknown.[12] It has been hypothesised that the host plant may be Schoenus brevifolius or another common sedge.

Notes and References

  1. Dugdale. J. S.. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 1988. 14. 191. 1 February 2017. 0111-5383. 27 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012006/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/49008/FNZ14Dugdale1988150.pdf. dead.
  2. Hudson. George Vernon. 1903. On Some New Species of Macro-lepidoptera.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. en. 35. 244–245. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. Prout, L.B. 1910: Lepidoptera Heterocera far. Geometridae subfam. Oenochrominae. Genera insectorum, fasc. 104. p. 22
  4. Murillo-Ramos . Leidys . Brehm . Gunnar . Sihvonen . Pasi . Hausmann . Axel . Holm . Sille . Reza Ghanavi . Hamid . Õunap . Erki . Truuverk . Andro . Staude . Hermann . Friedrich . Egbert . Tammaru . Toomas . Wahlberg . Niklas . 27 August 2019 . A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Geometridae (Lepidoptera) with a focus on enigmatic small subfamilies . PeerJ . en . 7 . e7386 . 10.7717/peerj.7386 . 2167-8359 . 6716565 . 31523494 . free .
  5. Book: Crowe, Andrew. Which New Zealand insect? : with over 650 life-size photos of New Zealand insects. 2002. Penguin. 0-14-100636-6. Auckland, N.Z.. 20. 52477325.
  6. Philpott. Alfred. 1920. Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. en. 53. 337–342. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  7. Clarke. Charles E.. The Lepidoptera of the Te Anau-Manapouri Lakes Districts.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 1934. 63. 112–132. 1 February 2017.
  8. Patterson. S. C.. 1930. List of Lepidoptera of Whangarei.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 61. 554–561. National Library of New Zealand.
  9. Book: Hudson. George Vernon. The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.. 1928. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. Wellington, N.Z.. 133–134. 1 February 2017.
  10. Web site: Swamp Looper (Adeixis griseata) . 2023-04-11 . iNaturalist . en.
  11. Book: Holloway. J. D.. A Survey of the Lepidoptera, Biogeography and Ecology of New Caledonia. 1979. Springer Science & Business Media. 9789400995970. 260. 1 February 2017. en.
  12. Web site: Notes on families and subfamilies of larger moths included in this Guide Larger moths of New Zealand Landcare Research . www.landcareresearch.co.nz . Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd . 1 February 2017 . en . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170419155931/http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/animals/large-moths/notes-on-families-and-subfamilies-of-larger-moths-included-in-this-guide . 19 April 2017 .

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