Helastia ohauensis
| Helastia ohauensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Helastia |
| Species: | H. ohauensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Helastia ohauensis | |
Helastia ohauensis is a moth of the family Geometridae.[2] This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the Mackenzie District in the South Island. Adults are on the wing in December and the species inhabits subalpine terrain.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Robin C. Craw in 1987 using specimens collected at the Freehold Range near Lake Ōhau at 4000 ft in December by S. Lindsay.[3] The male holotype is held at the Canterbury Museum.[4]
Description
[edit]Craw originally described this species as follows:
Medium sized (13 mm) triangular forewing; fore- and hindwings more elongate than in H. corcularia with the forewing apex and hindwing termen more rounded than in that species. Upperside forewing coloration and pattern light slaty brownish grey with darker and lighter wavy transverse lines. Male antennae bipectinated.[3]
Distribution
[edit]H. ohauensis is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It has been observed in the Mackenzie District of the South Island.[3]
Behaviour
[edit]Adults of this species are on the wing in December.[3] They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.[5]
Habitat
[edit]This species inhibits subalpine terrain.[3]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b "Helastia ohauensis Craw, 1987". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- ^ Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 180. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b c d e R. C. Craw (April 1987). "Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14 (2): 269–293. doi:10.1080/03014223.1987.10422997. ISSN 0301-4223. Wikidata Q54670161.
- ^ Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 181. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ Carey Knox (2024). Butterflies & Moths of Aotearoa New Zealand. John Beaufoy Publishing. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-913679-66-8. Wikidata Q130640046.