Australothis volatilis

Australothis volatilis, also known as the fuzzweed moth, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Australothis volatilis
Female
Male

Nationally Critical (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Hexapoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Australothis
Species:
A. volatilis
Binomial name
Australothis volatilis
Matthews & Patrick, 1998

Taxonomy

This species was discovered by Brian H. Patrick in Central Otago in 1989.[2] It was first described by him and his colleague M. Matthews in 1998.[3]

Distribution

A. volatilis is endemic to New Zealand.[4] It has been found in only six sites in Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin.[5]

Host plants
White Fuzzweed Vittadinia australis

The larvae of this species feed on Vittadinia species.[6] The natural host of A. volatilis appears to be the white fuzzweed herb Vittadinia australis. This plant is also endemic to New Zealand and is itself in need of conservation.[5] The caterpillars of A. volatilis feed on the flowerheads, leaves and developing seeds of the plant.[5] Larvae have also been seen feeding on the exotic species Vittadinia gracilis but it is unknown whether this plant provides the necessary nutrients to the larvae to ensure their successful maturation.[5]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical.[1]

References
  1. 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. 5. ISBN 9781988514383.
  2. Hoare, R. J. B. (22 June 2017). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 1: Austramathes, Cosmodes, Proteuxoa, Physetica" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 73: 13. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.73 – via Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
  3. Matthews, M.; Patrick, B. (1998-02-01). "A new diurnal species of Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) endemic to New Zealand". Journal of Natural History. 32 (2): 263–271. doi:10.1080/00222939800770131. ISSN 0022-2933.(Subscription required.)
  4. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 461. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  5. "Fuzzweed Moth" (PDF). www.endangeredspecies.org.nz. Endangered Species Foundation. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  6. Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. "Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera" (PDF). Science for Conservation. Department of Conservation. 136: 1–33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-13.


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