Epyaxa rosearia
| New Zealand looper | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female | |
| |
| Male | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Epyaxa |
| Species: | E. rosearia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Epyaxa rosearia (Doubleday, 1843)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Epyaxa rosearia, the New Zealand looper or plantain moth,[2][3] is a moth of the family Geometridae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand.
Taxonomy[edit]
E. rosearia was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1843 and named Cidaria rosearia.[4][5]
Description[edit]
The eggs of this species are pale yellow and oval with a smooth shell.[6]
Alex Purdie describes the caterpillar of this species as:
Length, at rest, about three- quarters of an inch. Colour light-green, with indistinct whitish longitudinal lines, and a narrow median dorsal stripe of the ground colour, edged on each side by one of these whitish lines; a subdorsal whitish line on each side of the median stripe; the ground colour shows again as a lateral line, edged below with whitish. Under-side with delicate whitish or yellowish longitudinal tracings, as on the upper side. The junctions of the segments show yellowish or whitish rings when the larva contracts. Head, greenish-yellow. Body tapering somewhat to the head.[6]
The caterpillars form a chrysalis that is glossy and very dark brownish black.[6] They can be found amongst the leaves of the forest floor.[7] E. rosearia adults are varied in appearance. They can have a pinkish tinge or can be brownish in hue although olive green is also common.[7]
Distribution[edit]
E. rosearia are very common throughout New Zealand.[7]
Host species[edit]
While it is endemic to New Zealand,[8] the larvae have so far only been recorded feeding on exotic plant species: Nasturtium officinale, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium ambiguum, Trifolium repens and Tropaeolum majus.[9] The larvae also seem to feed on the leaves of Trifolium caucasicum.
Interaction with humans[edit]
A recent study suggests this moth may be assisting with the pollination of avocado trees.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 180. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ Edlin, Bob (20 April 2014). "North Island farmers report bumper summer for native plantain moth". AgScience. New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "Plantain moth". AgPest. AgResearch. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "Cidaria rosearia Doubleday, 1843". New Zealand Organisms Register. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Dieffenbach, E. (1843). "List of Annulose Animals hitherto recorded as found in New Zealand with descriptions of some new species by Messrs. Adam White and Edward Doubleday". Travels in New Zealand: With Contributions to the Geography, Geology, Botany and Natural History of the Country. Vol. 2. London: John Murray. p. 285.
- ^ a b c Purdie, A. (1885). "Life History of Epyaxa rosearia, Dbld". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 18: 208–209 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b c Hoare, Robert J. B. (2014). A Photographic Guide to Moths & Butterflies of New Zealand. Ball, Olivier. Auckland: New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd. p. 95. ISBN 9781869663995. OCLC 891672034.
- ^ "Epyaxa rosearia (Doubleday, 1843)". New Zealand Organisms Register. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database". Plant-SyNZ. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Max N. Buxton; Robert J. B. Hoare; Melissa A. Broussard; Theo Van Noort; Grant R. T. Fale; Tamatea Nathan; David E. Pattemore (25 August 2021), Moths as potential pollinators in avocado (Persea americana) orchards in temperate regions, pp. 1–12, doi:10.1080/01140671.2021.1966480, Wikidata Q108352633