Austrocidaria anguligera explained

Austrocidaria anguligera is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is regarded as being uncommon but is frequently confused with Austrocidaria bipartita.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 using specimens collected by Frederick Hutton in Dunedin and given the name Phibalapteryx anguligera.[1] George Vernon Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1898 book as a synonym of Hydriomena gobiata.[2] In his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand Hudson again illustrated and discussed the species, but under the name Eucymatoge anguligera following Edward Meyrick's placement of the species within that genus.[3] [4] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned the species to a new genus Austrocidaria. The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[5]

Description

Butler described the adult moths of the species as follows:

A. anguligera is sometimes confused with A. bipartita,[6] with the latter being the more common species.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[7] [8] It has been found in Canterbury,[9] Otago, Invercargill, and Otira in the South Island, as well as in Auckland and Wellington in the North Island.

Biology and behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing from September to March. They can be found resting on tree trunks or fence posts during the day.

Habitat and host species

This species prefers scrubby forest habitat. It occurs in a variety of ecosystems from montane to coastal.[10] The larvae of this moth feeds on Coprosma species.[11] [12] Meyrick noted that the adults of this species could be found on the flowers of Senecio species. Hudson stated that the adult moths fed on the flowers of Veronica salicifolia.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Butler. Arthur Gardiner. 1879. On a small collection of Heterocerous Lepidoptera, from New Zealand.. Cistula Entomologica. 2. 487–511. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. Book: New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). Hudson. G. V.. 1898. London. 47. 10.5962/bhl.title.7912. 727236768. George Hudson (entomologist). 7 July 2018.
  3. Book: Hudson, G. V.. The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 98. 25449322. George Hudson (entomologist).
  4. Meyrick. Edward. Edward Meyrick. 1909. Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. en. 41. 5–16. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 175. 7 July 2018. 27 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012448/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
  6. Web site: Austrocidaria bipartita: Similar Species. iNaturalist.org. en. 3 June 2020.
  7. Book: New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. Canterbury University Press. 2010. 9781877257933. Gordon. Dennis P.. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.. 459. 973607714.
  8. Web site: Austrocidaria anguligera (Butler, 1879). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-07-07.
  9. Christchurch District Plan Site of Ecological Significance: Lathams. Scott Hooson. 30 January 2015. Christchurch City Council. 1–17. 7 July 2018.
  10. Web site: T.E.R:R.A.I.N - Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network - Austrocidaria anguligera. www.terrain.net.nz. en. 2018-07-07.
  11. Patrick. Hamish J.H.. Bowie. Mike H.. Fox. Barry W.. Patrick3. Brian H.. 2011. The moths of Quail Island (Ōtamahua): a faunal comparison of an island under restoration with other sites on Banks Peninsula. New Zealand National Sciences. 36. 57–72. 7 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231918/http://www.science.canterbury.ac.nz/nzns/issues/vol36-2011/patrick.pdf. 3 March 2016. dead.
  12. White. E. G.. 1991. The changing abundance of Moths in a Tussock grassland, 1962-1989, and 50- TO 70-year trends.. New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 15. 5–22.

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