Helastia scissa
| Helastia scissa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female | |
| |
| Male | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Helastia |
| Species: | H. scissa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Helastia scissa | |
Helastia scissa is a moth of the family Geometridae.[2] This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed only in the Marlborough region of the South Island. Adults are on the wing in February, are nocturnal and are attracted to light.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Robin Craw in 1987 using specimens collected on the slopes of Mount Tarndale in the Marlborough region in February by John S. Dugdale.[3] The male holotype is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[3]
Description
[edit]
Craw described this species as follows:
Medium sized (r.f.l. 11.5-12.7 mm) triangular forewing. Upper- side forewing coloration and pattern dark brown with obscure wavy transverse lines. Male antennae bipectinated.[3]
Craw goes on to distinguish this species from H. corcularia, H. semisignata, H. salmoni and H. ohauensis as a result of the differences of shape of both the male and female genitalia.[3]
Distribution
[edit]H. scissa is endemic to New Zealand.[4][1] It is found in the South Island and has only been observed in Marlborough.[3]
Behaviour
[edit]Adults of this species have been observed on the wing in February.[3] They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.[5]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b "Helastia scissa 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 f 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.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 459. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ Carey Knox (2024). Butterflies & Moths of Aotearoa New Zealand. John Beaufoy Publishing. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-913679-66-8. Wikidata Q130640046.