Orthoclydon praefectata
| Orthoclydon praefectata | |
|---|---|
| Female specimen | |
| Male specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Orthoclydon |
| Species: | O. praefectata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Orthoclydon praefectata | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Orthoclydon praefectata, the flax looper moth or flax window maker, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Description
The wing span of this species is 38–45 mm. The male moth is a pale brown and the female a glossy white.[2]
Taxonomy
O. praefectata was first described by Francis Walker under the name Acidalia praefectata.[3][4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1898 under the name Xanthorhoe praefectata.[5]
Distribution and habitat
This moth is endemic to and is widely distributed throughout New Zealand.[6][2]
The habitat/food plant for this moth is the New Zealand native flax Phormium tenax.[2]
Life cycle
Eggs
Eggs are straw coloured and are laid on the underside of the flax leaf.[2]
Larva
The caterpillar is a brown/green colour . It has three dark red lines on its back and a yellow line on each flank. When fully grown it is approximately 2.5 cm long.[2]
Adult
Adult moths are seen in all the summer months.[2]
Predators and parasites
The larvae of this species are known to be parasitised by wasps such as Netelia ephippiata, Lissopimpla excelsa and Rogas. They are also known to be preyed upon by hoverfly larvae such as those in Melangyna novaezealandiae and Allograpta ropala.[7]
See also
References
- ^ "Orthoclydon praefectata (Walker, 1861)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Gaskin, D E (1966). The Butterflies and Common Moths of New Zealand. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. p. 133.
- ^ Francis, Walker (1861). List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Vol. 23. London: British Museum. p. 781. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.58221 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 185. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ Hudson, G. V (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies. London: West, Newman & Co. pp. 60–61. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ 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. LCCN 2011379669. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ Valentine, Errol W (1967). "A list of entomophagous insects of New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Science. Wellington. 10: 1177.