Orthoclydon praefectata explained

Orthoclydon praefectata, the flax looper moth or flax window maker, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Description

The wing span of this species is 38–45 mm. The male moth is a pale brown and the female a glossy white.^[1]

Taxonomy

O. praefectata was first described by Francis Walker under the name Acidalia praefectata.^{[2] [3]} George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1898 under the name Xanthorhoe praefectata.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

This moth is endemic to and is widely distributed throughout New Zealand.^[5]

The habitat/food plant for this moth is the New Zealand native flax Phormium tenax.

Life cycle

Eggs

Eggs are straw coloured and are laid on the underside of the flax leaf.

Larva

The caterpillar is a brown/green colour . It has three dark red lines on its back and a yellow line on each flank. When fully grown it is approximately 2.5 cm long.

Adult

Adult moths are seen in all the summer months.

See also

• Butterflies of New Zealand

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20081018023812/http://ento.org.nz/nzentomologist/free_issues/Weta20_1_1997/Weta20%281%29_17_20.pdf
• http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/animals/bug-id/alphabetic-list-of-bugs/flax-looper-damage

Notes and References

1. Book: Gaskin, D E. The Butterflies and Common Moths of New Zealand. 1966. Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. Christchurch. 133.
2. Book: Francis, Walker. List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. British Museum. 1861. 23. London. 781. en. 10.5962/bhl.title.58221. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. Dugdale. J. S.. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 1988. 14. 185. 15 May 2018. 22 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
4. Book: New Zealand moths and butterflies. Hudson. G. V. 1898. West, Newman & Co.. London. 60–61. en. 10.5962/bhl.title.7912. 14 May 2018.
5. 460.