Planotortrix avicenniae

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Planotortrix avicenniae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Planotortrix
Species:
P. avicenniae
Binomial name
Planotortrix avicenniae
Synonyms
  • Planotortrix Type M
  • "Planotortrix 1" "M"

Planotortrix avicenniae is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the North Island and its larvae feed on mangrove trees.

Taxonomy and etymology[edit]

Planotortrix avicenniae in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC) - Ko te Aitanga Pepeke o Aotearoa

This species was first described in 1990 by John S. Dugdale.[1][2] The holotype specimen in held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. The species name refers to Avicennia, the genus of the larval host plant.[2]

Description[edit]

The female of the species can be difficult to distinguish from the females of P. excessana and P. octo.[2] However the larvae of P. avicenniae are distinctive.[2] Unlike the green headed and bodied larvae of P. excessana and P. octo they are grey greenish in colour with a brownish head.[2]

Distribution[edit]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][3] It has only been observed in the North Island in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel, and the Bay of Plenty.[2]

Biology and behaviour[edit]

The larvae of this species web together and feed on the leaves of their host plant.[4]

Habitat and host species[edit]

The larvae feed only on the mangrove tree species Avicennia marina.[4][5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Planotortrix avicenniae Dugdale, 1990". www.nzor.org.nz. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Dugdale, J. S. (1990-07-01). "Reassessment of Ctenopseustis Meyrick and Planotortrix Dugdale with descriptions of two new genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 17 (3): 437–465. doi:10.1080/03014223.1990.10422943.
  3. ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 464. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  4. ^ a b "Planotortrix avicenniae Dugdale, 1990 Herbivore report". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  5. ^ Allison, Jeremy D.; Carde, Ring T., eds. (2016). Pheromone communication in moths : evolution, behavior, and application. Oakland, California: University of California Press. p. 279. ISBN 9780520964433. OCLC 935885049.