Apoctena orthocopa

Apoctena orthocopa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Tortricidae
Genus:	Apoctena
Species:	A. orthocopa
Binomial name
Apoctena orthocopa (Meyrick, 1924)[1]
Synonyms
Tortrix orthocopa Meyrick, 1924

Apoctena orthocopa, also known as striped ponga leaf-tyer, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found only on the North Island.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1924 and named Tortrix orthocopa.[2] The specimens used by Meyrick were collected by George Hudson in Wellington in January.[2]

Description

The larvae of this species are pale green with a brown head and when mature are up to 20 mm in length.[3]

Meyrick described the adults of this species as follows:

♂♀. 18–21 mm. Head, palpi, thorax whitish-ochreous. Forewings sub-oblong, costa in ♂ with moderate fold from base to 2⁄5, termen sinuate, hardly oblique; pale ochreous, sometimes tinged brownish; markings variably tinged lilac and edged with dark-brown streaks; edge of basal patch very oblique, on costal half obsolete; edges of central fascia nearly straight, very oblique, anterior from 1⁄4 of costa to 3⁄4 of dorsum, posterior from beyond middle of costa to termen above tornus, sometimes a lighter spot edged posteriorly with one or two dark strigulae occupying anterior part of central fascia on costa; costal spot very faint, edged anteriorly by a very oblique brown striga, sometimes faintly continued sinuate to middle of termen: cilia pale ochreous, two brownish lines more or less marked. Hingwings, ♂ whitish-grey, ♀ ochreous-grey-whitish, a very few small cloudy greyish flecks; cilia concolorous.[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island.[3]

Behaviour

The larva of this species fold the fronds of its host and tie them with silk creating a shelter in which to hide.[3] The adult of this species is on the wing from January to March.[3]

Host plant

The larvae feed on Cyathea species including the silver fern.[4][3]

References

1. "Apoctena orthocopa (Meyrick, 1924)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
2. Meyrick, Edward (1924). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 55: 661–662 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. Andrew Crowe (2004). Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns: Featuring the unique caterpillars which feed on them. p. 26. ISBN 0-14-301924-4. Wikidata Q115211440.
4. Dugdale, J.S. (July 1990). "Reassessment of Ctenopseustis Meyrick and Planotortrix Dugdale with descriptions of two new genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 17 (3): 437–465. doi:10.1080/03014223.1990.10422943. ISSN 0301-4223.