Ichneutica eris
Ichneutica eris | |
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male | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
Family: | Noctuidae |
Genus: | Ichneutica |
Species: | I. eris
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Binomial name | |
Ichneutica eris Hoare, 2019
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Ichneutica eris is a moth of the family Noctuidae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in alpine habitat in the South Island and is on the wing from November to February. The species is attracted to light.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Robert Hoare in 2019.[2] The holotype specimen was collected near the Homer Tunnel by John Salmon in 1946.[1] I. eris was named in honour of Eris in light of the difficulty of the confusion this species has caused lepidopterists.[1]
Description
[edit]Adults of this species are brownish-grey in colour, with whitish markings on the forewings as well as greyish dots along the forewing edge.[1] The hindwings are grey in colour.[1] The wingspan range for the male of the species is between 37 and 46 mm, and for the female is between 43 and 51 mm.[1]
This species is similar in appearance to both I. cana and I. fibriata.[1]
Habitat and geographic range
[edit]This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the South Island in alpine habitat.[1] This species overlaps with the range of I. cana although it appears to be more restricted in range than that species.[1] However, I. eris can be found in the mountains surrounding Nelson, whereas I. cana is not present in that locality.[1]
Life history
[edit]Little is known of the life history of this species.[1] However, it is possible that the larvae exist on short alpine grasses and pupate on bare soil.[1]
Behaviour
[edit]Adults of this species are on the wing from November to February.[1] This species also appears to be attracted to light.[3]
References
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Robert J. B. Hoare (9 December 2019). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 2: Nivetica, Ichneutica" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 80. Illustrator: Birgit E. Rhode: 1–455. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.80. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q94481265. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Ichneutica eris". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ "Ichneutica eris". iNaturalist. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.