Paradetis Explained

Paradetis is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Paradetis porphyrias, also known as the orange and purple fern looper, is endemic to New Zealand. The genus and species were first described by Edward Meyrick, the genus in 1885 and the species in 1883.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Meyrick in 1883 under the name Parysatis porphyrias.^{[1] [2]} Meyrick went on to give a more detailed description of the species in 1884.^[3] In 1886 Meyrick renamed the genus of this species Paradetis.^[4]

George Hudson illustrated and discussed this species under its current name Paradetis porphyrias in both of his books New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) in 1898 and The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand in 1928.^{[5] [6]}

Description

The larva of this species is thin and green and when mature is 20 mm long.^[7]

Meyrick described the adult female of the species as follows:

Distribution

P. porphyrias is endemic to New Zealand.^[8] Meyrick first collected the species near Otira Gorge at Arthur's Pass in January. The species has also been found at Mount Arthur, Castle Hill, and Lake Wakatipu.

Habitat and host species

Alfred Philpott mentioned that the species frequented the banks of mountain streams.^[9] P. porphyrias larvae likely feed on Hypolepis millefolium.^[10]

Notes and References

1. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 186. 23 December 2018. 22 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
2. Meyrick. Edward. Edward Meyrick. 1883. Monograph of New Zealand Geometrina [abstract] ]. New Zealand Journal of Science. 1. 526–531. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. Meyrick . Edward . 1884. A monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute . 16 . 49–113 . Biodiversity Heritage Library.
4. Meyrick. Edward. 1886. Notes on Nomenclature of New Zealand Geometrina . Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Institute of New Zealand. 18. 184. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
5. Book: New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). Hudson. G. V. . 1898 . London . 41 . 10.5962/bhl.title.32466. 727236768. George Hudson (entomologist) . 23 December 2018.
6. Book: Hudson, G. V.. George Hudson (entomologist)

   . The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand . Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. . 1928 . Wellington . 109 . 25449322 . George Hudson (entomologist).

7. 25.
8. Book: New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume Two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils . Canterbury University Press . 2010 . 9781877257933. Gordon. Dennis P.. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.. 460. 973607714.
9. Philpott . Alfred. 1917. A list of the Lepidoptera of Otago. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 49. 195–238.
10. Web site: Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment - Paradetis porphyrias . Plant-SyNZ. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research . 23 December 2018.