Notoreas chioneres explained

Notoreas chioneres is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Louis Beethoven Prout in 1939 using material collected at The Obelisk in the Old Man Range / Kopuwai in Otago by George Howes.[1] [2] In 1986 Robin C. Craw reviewed the genus Notoreas and confirmed the inclusion of N. chioneres within it.[3] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

This species has a wingspan of 23 mm and is similar in appearance to N. isoleuca.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[4] [5] It is found in the mountain ranges of Central Otago as well as in the Kakanui Mountains at altitudes of between 1200 and 1500 metres.[6]

Biology and behaviour

This species is a day flying moth. It is on the wing from December to February.[7] Adult moths, when settled, continue to vibrate their wings ensuring they are immediately ready to take off should they be disturbed.[8] Although they prefer sunshine they will continue to fly when conditions are cloudy. They fly relatively low to the ground. When resting for long periods they adopt the posture of holding their wings together above their body.

Habitat and host species

This species frequents alpine herbfield habitat.[9] The larvae of this species feed on Kelleria villosa.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Prout. L. B.. 1939. Geometridae: Fauna Indo-Australica.. The Macrolepidoptera of the World (Stuttgart). 12. 237–292. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 184. 15 June 2018.
  3. Craw . R.C. . Review of the genus Notoreas (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae) . New Zealand Journal of Zoology . 5 January 2012 . 13 . 1 . 131–140 . 10.1080/03014223.1986.10422654 . free .
  4. Web site: Notoreas chioneres Prout, 1939. www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-06-16.
  5. 460.
  6. Dickinson . K. J. M. . Mark . A. F. . Barratt . B. I. P. . Patrick . B. H. . Rapid ecological survey, inventory and implementation: A case study from Waikaia Ecological Region, New Zealand . Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand . March 1998 . 28 . 1 . 83–156 . 10.1080/03014223.1998.9517556 . free .
  7. Book: Insects of the Dansey ecological district. Patrick. Brian. Department of Conservation, New Zealand. 1991. 978-0478012859. Wellington. 8, 18. 16 June 2018.
  8. Patrick. BH. Hoare. RJB. Rhode. BE. December 2010. Taxonomy and conservation of allopatric moth populations: a revisionary study of the Notoreas perornata Walker complex (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae), with special reference to southern New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 37. 4. 257–283. 10.1080/03014223.2010.511127. free.
  9. Web site: Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review. Obelisk Station PO 264 Conservation Resources Report - Part 4. December 2010. www.linz.govt.nz. 16 January 2018.
  10. Web site: Herbivore Report With Reasons - Notoreas chioneres Prout, 1939. 2011. www.plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 16 June 2018.

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