Pseudocoremia cineracia explained

Pseudocoremia cineracia is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by George Howes in 1942 from specimens obtained at Moke Lake^[1] and taken in January and February. Howes named it Selidosema cineracia. This name was also used when the species was discussed by George Vernon Hudson in 1950.^[2] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned the species to the genus Pseudocoremia.^[3] This classification of the species into Pseudocoremia is regarded as unsatisfactory. As such the species is also currently known as Pseudocoremia (s.l.) cineracia. The holotype specimen is held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.^[4]

Description

The larvae are coloured grey.^[5]

Howes described the adult male of the species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^{[6] [7]} The species range of this moth is Mackenzie, Central Otago and Otago Lakes. Other than its type locality, this species occurs at Stony Beach at Okains Bay,^[8] Big Spur Creek & Cluden Stream at Cluden Station in Otago^[9] and Kawarau Gorge.

Biology and host species

The host species of this moth is Olearia odorata.^[10] The species is attracted to sugar lures. The adults are on the wing August until June with the species being more common in September.

Habitat

P. cineracia inhabits montane shrublands at an altitude of between 150-850m.

Conservation status

This species has been classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Vulnerable.^[11] P. cineracia is classified as nationally vulnerable partially because of its reliance on its host plant which is suffering a decline as a result of habitat destruction.

Notes and References

1. Howes. George. George Howes (entomologist). 1942. Lepidoptera.. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 71. 277–278.
2. Book: Hudson. G. V.. George Hudson (entomologist). Fragments of New Zealand entomology. - a popular account of all New Zealand cicadas. The natural history of the New Zealand glow-worm. A second supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand and notes on many other native insects.. 1950. Ferguson & Osborne Ltd. Wellington. 92. 7 May 2018.
3. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 96. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-05-07. 2019-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
4. Web site: Pseudocoremia cineracia (Howes, 1942). collections.tepapa.govt.nz. en. 2018-05-07.
5. Book: Pawson. SM. Emberson. RM . 2000 . The conservation status of invertebrates in Canterbury . Wellington . Department of Conservation . 1171-9834 . 49 . Appendix A . Conservation Advisory Science Notes. 10182/1658.
6. Web site: Pseudocoremia cineracia (Howes, 1942). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 7 May 2018.
7. 459.
8. Web site: Christchurch District Plan. Site of Ecological Significance. Stony Beach.. Hogan. Debbie. 6 June 2015. www.districtplan.ccc.govt.nz. 7 May 2017.
9. Web site: Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review. Cluden Station. Conservation Resources Report - Part 1. 2005. www.linz.govt.nz. 7 May 2018.
10. Book: Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera.. Patrick. Brian. Dugdale. John S.. Department of Conservation. 2000. 0478218672. Wellington, New Zealand. 28.
11. Book: Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015. Hoare. R.J.B.. Dugdale. J.S.. Edwards. E.D.. Gibbs. G.W.. Patrick. B.H.. Hitchmough. R.A.. Rolfe. J.R.. New Zealand Department of Conservation. 2017. 9781988514383. Wellington, New Zealand. 7.