Tatosoma agrionata explained
Tatosoma agrionata, also known as the mistletoe carpet moth, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae first described by Francis Walker in 1862. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as at risk, declining by the Department of Conservation.
Taxonomy
T. agrionata was first described by Francis Walker in 1862 using specimens collected either in Hawkes Bay or Taupō by William Colenso. Walker originally named the species Cidaria agrionata.[1] In the same publication Walker, thinking it was a separate species, again described the moth under the name Cidaria collectaria.[2] In 1874 Arthur Gardiner Butler placed this species in the genus Tatosoma.[3] In 1988 John S. Dugdale synonymised this name. George Vernon Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] The lectotype specimen is held in the Natural History Museum, London.[5]
Description
The larvae of this species are orange upon hatching but as they mature they turn yellow green. They are slightly paler on their underside. When mature they form a cocoon from soil and silk on the surface of the ground underneath their host plants.
Hudson described the adults of the species as follows:T. agrionata is very similar in appearance to Tatosoma tipulata and can be confused with that species. This species can be distinguished T. tipulata as it lacks the Z-shaped basal line and has a conspicuous large pale patch near tornus. Robert Hoare has also stated that T. agrionata has is a very distinct black V on the forewing dorsum near the base that appears to be a distinguishing feature as it is not present on T. tipulata.[6]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[7] [8] It has occurred from the Bay of Plenty to Wellington in the North Island and from Nelson to Stewart Island.[9] In 2000 this species was regarded as possibly extinct in the North Island. However in 2022 this species was observed in the Coromandel Forest Park.
Life cycle and behaviour
Larvae of T. agrionata are slow moving. Adults emerge from July to May and it has been hypothesised that there are two generations per year.[10] The adults of this species can be looked for resting on tree trunks.
Habitat and host plants
T. agrionata frequents forest habitat and can be found up to an elevation of 900 m. The host species for the larvae of this species are native leafy Loranthaceae such as Alepis flavida, Ileostylus micranthus, Peraxilla colenso, Peraxilla tetrapetala, Trilepidea adamsii and Tupeia antarctica.[11] [12]
Conservation status
This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification System as being at risk, declining.[13]
Notes and References
- Walker. Francis. 1862. XXV: Geometrites (continued) . List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum . pt. 25. 1281–1477. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- Walker. Francis. 1862. XXV: Geometrites (continued) . List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. pt. 25. 1281–1477. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- Book: Butler . Arthur Gardiner . The zoology of the voyage of the H.M.S. Erebus & Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross - Insects . 1846 . E. W. Janson . London . 43–44 . 10.5962/bhl.title.7364.
- Book: Hudson, G. V.. The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. . 1928 . Wellington. 85. George Hudson (entomologist).
- Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa . Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 190. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- Web site: Steer . Tony . 2022-10-08 . Tatosoma agrionata . 2023-04-26 . iNaturalist . en.
- Web site: Tatosoma agrionata (Walker, 1862). New Zealand Organisms Register . Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 15 May 2018.
- 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.
- Book: Patrick, Brian. Conservation Status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera. Dugdale. John S.. 2000. Department of Conservation, New Zealand . 0478218672. Wellington, N.Z.. 32. 154670803.
- Book: New Zealand's Loranthaceous Mistletoes: Proceedings of a Workshop Hosted by Threatened Species Unit, Department of Conservation, Cass, 17 -20 July 1995 . Peter J. . De Lange . David A. . Norton . 1997 . Department of Conservation, New Zealand . 0478019068 . Wellington, N.Z. . 154315406.
- Web site: Leafy mistletoes New Zealand Plant Conservation Network . 14 December 2013. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network . 14 May 2018.
- Patrick. H.. Bowie. M.. Fox. B.. Patrick. B.. The moths of Quail Island (Ōtamahua): a faunal comparison of an island under restoration with other sites on Banks Peninsula. New Zealand Natural Sciences. 2011. 36. 57–72. 15 May 2018.
- Book: Hoare, R.J.B.. Conservation Status of New Zealand Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera), 2015 . 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.