Samana acutata

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Samana acutata
Male

Relict (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Samana
Species:
S. acutata
Binomial name
Samana acutata
Butler, 1877[1]

Samana acutata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict" by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy[edit]

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 using a specimen that was collected from Christchurch, in the South Island and was obtained from J. D. Enys.[2][3] George Hudson discussed this species in his 1898 book New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera).[4] He later discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[5][6] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[6]

Description[edit]

Illustration by George Hudson.

Butler described the species as follows:

Primaries pale straw yellow ; an oblique interno-basal litura, a dot at the end of the cell, and a discal transverse line terminating in an acute < -shaped angle, piceous ; the discal line diffused externally ; a marginal series of black dots ; secondaries white, with the fringe creamy; a marginal series of black dots; thorax pale straw yellow, abdomen white : primaries below pale testaceous, whitish on internal area ; markings (excepting the marginal dots, which are united by a slender brown line) only visible through the wing ; secondaries white, the costal area tinted with testaceous, and sparsely irrorated with brown ; a small black dot at the end of cell ; a marginal series of black dots ; fringe creamy : body below pale straw yellow. Expanse of wings 1 inch 2 lines.[2]

Distribution[edit]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][7] S. acutata can be found in Mid Canterbury and Central Otago.[3] It is now extinct at its type locality.[3]

Life cycle and behaviour[edit]

Larvae of this species have been found in January and in March.[8][9] The adult is on the wing in September and October.[10] Hudson stated this species is attracted to light.[5]

Host species and habitat[edit]

The host species for this moth are the New Zealand native brooms in the genus Carmichaelia including Carmichaelia australis and Carmichaelia appressa.[3][9][11] The species is known to inhabit dune ecosystems.[12] It has also been found in habitat containing gorse and mānuka.[5]

Conservation status[edit]

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Relict".[13] This species is threatened as a result of change of habitat, in particular the loss of its host species due to farming and urban development.[3] It is also at risk from weed invasion from plants such as sea spurge.[12]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Samana acutata.
  1. ^ a b "Samana acutata Butler, 1877". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  2. ^ a b Butler, A. G. (1877). "On two collections of heterocerous Lepidoptera from New Zealand, with descriptions of new genera and species". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 379–407 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ^ a b c d e Patrick, B.H.; Dugdale, J.S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. ISBN 047821867-2. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. ^ Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & Co. p. 76. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 133.
  6. ^ a b Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 192 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
  7. ^ 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. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  8. ^ Patrick, B. (January 1982). "Lepidoptera of Danseys Pass, Otago". New Zealand Entomologist. 7 (3): 332–336. doi:10.1080/00779962.1982.9722418.
  9. ^ a b Patrick, B. (1994). "Lepidoptera of Kaitorete Spit, Canterbury". New Zealand Entomologist. 17 (1): 52–63. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.580.6402. doi:10.1080/00779962.1994.9721985.
  10. ^ Pawson, S. M.; Emberson, R. M. (2000). "The conservation status of invertebrates in Canterbury". Researchgate. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  11. ^ Patrick, H.J.H.; Bowie, M.H.; Fox, B.W.; Patrick, B.H. (2011). "The moths of Quail Island (Otamahua): a faunal comparison of an island under restoration with other sites on Banks Peninsula" (PDF). New Zealand Natural Sciences Journal. 36: 57–72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  12. ^ a b Duthie, Catherine (2012). Risk Analysis: Euphorbia paralias – sea spurge. ISBN 978-0-478-40435-7. Retrieved 18 May 2018. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 8. ISBN 9781988514383.
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