Meterana pansicolor

Meterana pansicolor is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

Meterana pansicolor
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Meterana
Species:
M. pansicolor
Binomial name
Meterana pansicolor
(Howes, 1912)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Morrisonia pansicolor Howes, 1912

Taxonomy

This species was described by George Howes and named Morrisonia pansicolor in 1912 from specimens collected in Dunedin in November.[3] George Hudson, using the same name, described and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4] In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Meterana.[5] The lectotype specimen is held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[5]

Description
Meterana pansicolor illustrated by Howes

Howes described the species as follows:

29 mm. Head and thorax ochreous, slightly tinged with rufous. Antennae filiform, rufous. Crests well defined, dotted with rufous. Abdomen ochreous, in ♀︎ dotted with minute dark specks, ochreous-rufous in ♂︎, with strong crests, especially the anal. Forewings ochreous, suffused with rufous ; all markings rufous. Subbasal line double, much broken, double line at ​1⁄3 bending strongly outwards at centre of wing. A mark on costa at ​1⁄2, followed by two marks over reniform, which continue through reniform as faint jagged lines across wing. An indistinct subterminal line formed by a series of dots. Orbicular obsolete. Reniform filled with dark rufous. Veins faintly marked with rufous. Cilia ochreous. Hindwings ochreous, centre of wing clouded with rufous brown. Discoidal spot well defined. A faint series of subterminal dots. Cilia whitish-ochreous, with a darker line at base. Underside pale ochreous. Curved post-medial line across both wings. Reniform and discoidal lunule well defined.[3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][2] It is only known from Dunedin[6] and Central Otago.[7]

Biology and behaviour

Very little is known about the biology of this species.[6] Adult moths emerge in spring.[8] The adults are on the wing in October and November.[4] The adult moths are attracted to sugar traps.[3]

Host species and habitat

The larvae of this moth feed on lacebark (Hoheria) species.[9]

Conservation Status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[10]

References
  1. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 461. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  2. "Meterana pansicolor (Howes, 1912)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  3. Howes, William George (1912). "New species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 44: 203–208 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 69.
  5. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 207. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  6. Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 27. ISBN 0478218672. OCLC 154670803.
  7. Patrrick, B. H.; Archibald, R. D. (January 1988). "Lepidoptera light-trapped at Owaka, South Otago". New Zealand Entomologist. 11 (1): 70–72. doi:10.1080/00779962.1988.9722541.(subscription required)
  8. Patrick, Brian (2014). "Winter-emerging moths of New Zealand". The Weta. 48: 8–14.
  9. Hoare, R. J. B. (2016). "A paradise for lepidopterists" (PDF). Pukorokoro Miranda News. Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ Trust. 100: 24–25.
  10. Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). "Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 8.


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