Notoreas chioneres

Notoreas chioneres
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Notoreas
Species:
N. chioneres
Binomial name
Notoreas chioneres
Prout, 1939[1]

Notoreas chioneres is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Louis Beethoven Prout in 1939 using material collected at The Obelisk in the Old Man Range / Kopuwai in Otago by George Howes.[2][3] In 1986 Robin C. Craw reviewed the genus Notoreas and confirmed the inclusion of N. chioneres within it.[4] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[3]

Description

This species has a wingspan of 23 mm and is similar in appearance to N. isoleuca.[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][5] It is found in the mountain ranges of Central Otago as well as in the Kakanui Mountains at altitudes of between 1200 and 1500 metres.[6][7]

Biology and behaviour

This species is a day flying moth.[8] It is on the wing from December to February.[6] Adult moths, when settled, continue to vibrate their wings ensuring they are immediately ready to take off should they be disturbed.[8] Although they prefer sunshine they will continue to fly when conditions are cloudy.[8] They fly relatively low to the ground.[8] When resting for long periods they adopt the posture of holding their wings together above their body.[8]

Habitat and host species

This species frequents alpine herbfield habitat.[9] The larvae of this species feed on Kelleria villosa.[6][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Notoreas chioneres Prout, 1939". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-06-16.
  2. ^ a b Prout, L. B. (1939). "Geometridae: Fauna Indo-Australica". The Macrolepidoptera of the World (Stuttgart). 12: 237–292 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ^ a b Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 184. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  4. ^ Craw, R.C. (5 January 2012). "Review of the genus Notoreas (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 13 (1): 131–140. doi:10.1080/03014223.1986.10422654.
  5. ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 460. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  6. ^ a b c Patrick, Brian (1991). Insects of the Dansey ecological district (PDF). Wellington: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. pp. 8, 18. ISBN 978-0478012859. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  7. ^ Dickinson, K. J. M.; Mark, A. F.; Barratt, B. I. P.; Patrick, B. H. (March 1998). "Rapid ecological survey, inventory and implementation: A case study from Waikaia Ecological Region, New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 28 (1): 83–156. doi:10.1080/03014223.1998.9517556.
  8. ^ a b c d e Patrick, BH; Hoare, RJB; Rhode, BE (December 2010). "Taxonomy and conservation of allopatric moth populations: a revisionary study of the Notoreas perornata Walker complex (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae), with special reference to southern New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 37 (4): 257–283. doi:10.1080/03014223.2010.511127.
  9. ^ "Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review. Obelisk Station PO 264 Conservation Resources Report - Part 4" (PDF). www.linz.govt.nz. December 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Herbivore Report With Reasons - Notoreas chioneres Prout, 1939". www.plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2018.