Poecilasthena schistaria
Appearance
Poecilasthena schistaria | |
---|---|
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Geometridae |
Genus: | Poecilasthena |
Species: | P. schistaria
|
Binomial name | |
Poecilasthena schistaria | |
Synonyms | |
|
Poecilasthena schistaria, the kanuka looper, is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in New Zealand.[2]
The wings vary from very pale brown to rather dull purplish-brown with numerous jagged, darker transverse lines. Adults are on wing from October to April.[3]
The larvae feed on Leptospermum scoparium.[4] They are dull green with a white more or less black-edged band down each side. There is a thin central white line on the back, and a narrow yellow line half-way between it and the lateral white band. The head is dull green.[5] Pupation takes place in a slight cocoon below the surface of the earth.
References
- ^ Yu, Dicky Sick Ki. "Poecilasthena schistaria (Walker 1861)". Home of Ichneumonoidea. Taxapad. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016.
- ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Poecilasthena schistaria". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum.
- ^ New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)
- ^ Rod Morris: New Zealand Invertebrates
- ^ Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Poecilasthena schistaria.
Wikispecies has information related to Poecilasthena schistaria.