Metacrias huttoni explained

Metacrias huttoni is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand where it is known from the eastern areas of the South Island. The female of the species is flightless and buff coloured where as the male is brightly coloured and flies during the day.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 using two specimens collected in Queenstown by Frederick Hutton and named Phaos huttonii.[1] [2] In 1886 Edward Meyrick assigned this species to the genus Metacrias.[3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1898 publication New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) using the name Metacrias huttonii.[4] He again discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. In this publication Hudson used the name Metacrias huttoni to describe the species following George Hampson's use of that spelling in his Catalogue of Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum.[5] [6] This spelling has since been in common use as evidenced in the New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity, New Zealand Arthropod Collection as well as the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[7] [8] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[9]

Description

The larvae of this species are approximately long, black and very hairy. The hairs on the terminal segments are the longest and the shortest hairs are reddish-ochreous-brown. There is are blue dots around each segment except the second.

Adults males are brightly coloured and diurnal, while females are buff coloured and extremely short winged.

Butler described the species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[10] [11] It is known from the eastern areas of the South Island.[12]

Biology and behaviour

The female of the species is semiapterious and remains within her cocoon for mating and egg laying.[13] As a result of this, the population disbursal of the species is limited to the wanderings of the larvae. The male of the species is diurnal and is on the wing from December to March. Males are attracted to females by pheromones. Males of this species can be attracted to the scent of females of different species within their genus. Researchers have used females as lures to take advantage of this behaviour to detect males in new localities. The larvae hibernates during winter. Pupae cocoons are normally found beneath stones.

Habitat and host species

This species prefers montane to low-alpine habitats. The larvae of M. huttoni feed on various mountain grasses.[14] These include introduced species such as Trifolium repens, Arenaria serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosella, Cerastium fontanum and Taraxacum officinale as well as endemic species such as Festuca novae-zelandiae and indigenous species from the genera Acaena, Muehlenbeckia, Wahlenbergia and Raoulia.

Threats

It has been shown that sheep grazing within the habitat of this species is detrimental to its populations.[15] M. huttoni is a host species for the parasitoid wasps Echthromorpha intricatoria and Cotesia urabae.[16] [17]

Notes and References

  1. Butler . A. G. . On a small collection of Heterocerous Lepidoptera, from New Zealand . Cistula Entomologica . 1879 . 2 . 487–511 . 5 June 2018 . en.
  2. Book: Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 1–269. 4 June 2018. 978-0477025188. 22 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
  3. Meyrick. E.. 1886. Revision of Australian Lepidoptera. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 2. 1. 749–750. 4 June 2018. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. Book: New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). Hudson. G. V.. 1898. West, Newman & co.. London. 5. 10.5962/bhl.title.7912. 727236768. George Hudson (entomologist). 27 May 2018.
  5. Book: Hudson, G. V.. The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 43. 25449322. George Hudson (entomologist).
  6. Book: Hampson, George Francis. Catalogue of Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. 1901. Trustees of the British Museum. 3. London. 468 fig. 204. en. 10.5962/bhl.title.21046. George Hampson.
  7. Web site: Larger moths of New Zealand: Image gallery and online guide. Hoare. R.J.B.. Rhode. B.E.. March 2012. Landcare Research. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. en. 5 June 2018. Emmerson. A.W..
  8. Web site: Metacrias huttoni (Butler, 1879) (Species). collections.tepapa.govt.nz. en. 2018-06-05.
  9. Book: Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 1–269. 4 June 2018. 978-0477025188. 22 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
  10. 457.
  11. Web site: Metacrias huttoni (Butlera, 1879a). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-06-06.
  12. Patrick. Brian. Patrick. Hamish. Edwards. Eric. 2003. Tiger moths and pheromones. The Weta. 25. 14–17. 10.1.1.523.200.
  13. Gibbs. G. W.. 1962. The New Zealand genus Metacrias Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) systematics and distribution. . Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand . Zoology . 2. 19. 153–167. Papers Past New Zealand.
  14. Hudson. George Vernon. 1912. Notes on Flightless Females of certain Species of Moths, with an attempted explanation.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. en. 45. 152–157. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  15. White. E. G.. July 1985. Effects of sheep stocking rates and management on the abundance of a pasture-feeding caterpillar. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 13. 3. 271–276. 10.1080/03015521.1985.10426093.
  16. Web site: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae: Echthromorpha Holmgren, 1868. Ward. D. F.. Schnitzler. F. R.. 2013. www.landcareresearch.co.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. en. 2017-01-18.
  17. Web site: Evaluation & Review Report for the release of Cotesia urabae. For the biological control of Gum Leaf Skeletoniser. 2004. www.epa.govt.nz. 5 June 2018.

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