Notoreas ischnocyma explained

Notoreas ischnocyma is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in Canterbury and Otago.

Taxonomy

Notoreas ischnocyma was described by Edward Meyrick in 1905 using material collected at Castle Hill by George Hudson at an elevation of 1700 meters.^{[1] [2]} Hudson had previously illustrated the specimen in his 1898 book New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) but had included it within the species N. isoleuca.^[3] Hudson subsequently agreed with Meyrick and discussed and illustrated this species under the new species name in The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.^[4]

The genus Notoreas was reviewed in 1986 by R. C. Craw and the placement of this species within it was confirmed.^[5] However species within the genus Notoreas are currently regarded as being in need of revision.^[6] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.^[7]

Description

Meyrick described the species as follows:

N. ischnocyma can be distinguished from similar species by the slender second wavy line on its forewings.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^{[8] [9]} Other than the type locality of Castle Hill, N. ischnocyma has also been found in the Hawkdun and the Dansey ecological districts in Otago.^{[10] [11]}

Biology and behaviour

This day flying species is on the wing in December and January.

Habitat and host species

This species inhabits high alpine stunted vegetation and herb fields. Larvae of species within the genus Notoreas feed exclusively on plants within the genera Pimelea and Kelleria.^[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Notoreas ischnocyma Meyrick, 1905 . www.nzor.org.nz. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research . 2018-12-09.
2. Meyrick. Edward. 1905. Notes on New Zealand Lepidoptera. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 1905. 219–244. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. Book: Hudson, G. V.. New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). West, Newman & co.. 1898. London. plate viii fig. 27 . 10.5962/bhl.title.32466. 727236768. George Hudson (entomologist).
4. Book: Hudson, G. V.. George Hudson (entomologist)

   . The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 126. 25449322. George Hudson (entomologist).

5. Craw. R.C.. 5 January 2012. Review of the genus Notoreas (sensu auctorum) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae). New Zealand Journal of Zoology . 13. 1. 131–140. 10.1080/03014223.1986.10422654. free.
6. Web site: Larger moths of New Zealand: Image gallery and online guide. Hoare. R. J. B. Rhode. B.E.. 2011. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research . 9 December 2018. Emmerson. A.W..
7. Book: Dugdale, John S.. 1988-09-23. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 1–264. 978-0-477-02518-8. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. 2018-12-09. 2019-01-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012006/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/49008/FNZ14Dugdale1988150.pdf. dead.
8. 460.
9. Web site: Notoreas ischnocyma Meyrick, 1905 . www.nzor.org.nz. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research . 2018-12-09.
10. Book: Patrick, Brian H.. Hawkdun Ecological District invertebrate survey. 1994. Department of Conservation . 978-0478015539. 0113-3713. 64. Wellington, N.Z.. 0113-3713. 53885579. 10.1.1.227.2484.
11. Book: Patrick, Brian H.. Insects of the Dansey ecological district. 1991. Department of Conservation. 978-0478012859. Wellington [N.Z.]. 7, 18. 0113-3713. 154612987.
12. 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.