Gingidiobora subobscurata explained

Gingidiobora subobscurata is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as "At Risk, Declining" by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1862 and named Scotosia subobscurata.[1] Walker stated he examined a specimen collected in Auckland by T. R. Oxley.[2] This holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. In 1875, thinking they were describing a new species, Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer, Baron Cajetan von Felder and Rudolf Felder named the moth Cidaria ascotata and illustrated it.[3] This name was synonymised by Louis Beethoven Prout in 1927 when he placed the species within the genus Xanthorhoe.[4] Edward Meyrick also described this species in 1883 thinking it was new to science.[5] He named it Larentia petropola.[6] Meyrick subsequently realised that the moth he described was the same species as that described by Walker. In 1884 Meyrick went on to synonymise his name with Scotosia subobscurata but placed the species within the genus Larentia.[7] [8] George Vernon Hudson discussed the species as Xanthorhoe subobscurata in 1898 and mentioned that both Scotosia subobscurata and Larentia petropola were synonyms.[9] Again using the name Xanthorhoe subobscurata Hudson also described and illustrated the species in 1928.[10] In 1987 Robin C. Craw placed this species within the genus Gingidiobora thus its current name is Gingidiobora subobscurata.[11]

Description

Larvae of this species are green and smooth.

Meyrick mentioned that the adults have a bluish tinge. Hudson described the adult moth as follows:

Distribution

G. subobscurata is endemic to New Zealand.[12] [13] This species has occurred in Nelson, Otira Gorge at Arthur's Pass, Queenstown, and at Bold Peak at Lake Wakatipu.

Life cycle and behaviour

Adult moths are on the wing from January to March. They are rare but tend to frequent bare rocky areas approximately 600m or more above sea-level.

Habitat and host plant

This species inhabits the higher-rainfall upland and montane sites of the South Island.[14] Larvae feed on Gingidia montana, also known as mountain aniseed.[15] This is a plant that has been declining as a result of its attractiveness to browsing animals.

Conservation status

G. subobscurata has been given the "At Risk, Declining" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Dugdale. J. S.. Lepidoptera – annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 1988. 14. 180. 9 May 2018. 27 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012448/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
  2. Walker. Francis. 1862. XXV: Geometrites (continued).. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. en. pt. 25. 1281–1477. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. Felder. C.. Rogenhofer. A. F.. 1875. (Zoologischer Theil) Band 2 (Abtheilung 2) (Atlas). Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde. en. pt.9:Bd.2:Abt.2 (1864–1867) [Atlas]. pl. cxxxi fig. 9. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. Prout. L. B.. Louis Beethoven Prout. 1927. Notes on New Zealand Geometridae.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58. 75–79.
  5. Meyrick. Edward. 1883. Monograph of New Zealand Geometrina [abstract].]. New Zealand Journal of Science. en. 1. 526–531. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  6. Meyrick. Edward. 1884. A monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. en. 16. 49–113. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  7. Meyrick. Edward. 1884. Supplement to a monograph of the New Zealand Geometridae. New Zealand Journal of Science. en. 2. 234–235. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  8. Meyrick. Edward. 1885. Supplement to a monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. en. 17. 62–68. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  9. Book: Hudson, G. V.. New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). West, Newman & co.. 1898. 9781294722274. London. 66. en. 10.5962/bhl.title.7912. George Hudson (entomologist).
  10. Book: Hudson, G. V.. The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 115. George Hudson (entomologist).
  11. Craw. R. C.. 1987. Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae). New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14. 2. 269–293. 10.1080/03014223.1987.10422997.
  12. Web site: Gingidiobora subobscurata (Walker, 1862). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 9 May 2018.
  13. 457.
  14. Book: Patrick, Brian. Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera.. Dugdale. John S.. Department of Conservation. 2000. 978-0478218671. Wellington, New Zealand. 23.
  15. Web site: Gingidia montana New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. www.nzpcn.org.nz. 2018-05-12.
  16. Hoare. R.J.B.. Dugdale. J.S.. Edwards. E.D.. Gibbs. G.W.. Patrick. B.H.. Hitchmough. R.A.. Rolfe. J.R.. 2017. Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20. 7.

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