Graphania averilla

Graphania averilla is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.[1]

Graphania averilla
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Hexapoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Graphania
Species:
G. averilla
Binomial name
Graphania averilla
(Hudson, 1921)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Melanchra averilla Hudson, 1921
  • Melanchra furtiva Philpott, 1924

Discovery and taxonomy

Graphania averilla was first described by George Hudson in 1921 under the name Melanchra averill.[2] The moth was discovered by Averil Lysaght in December 1920 on Mount Egmont.[2] Alfred Philpott also described this species in 1924 under the name Melanchra furtiva from specimens collected around Mount Arthur as well as in the mountainous areas near Lake Wakatipu.[3] In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Graphania and recognised Melanchra furtiva as a new synonym.[4] In 2019 Robert J. B. Hoare published a paper in which he undertook a major review of New Zealand noctuids. Hoare, having inspected the type specimens of this species, placed it within the genus Ichneutica.[5]

Description

Graphania averilla is a medium-sized moth. The forewings of this species are pinkish brown coloured, tinged with grey and have dark markings with a notable streak running lengthwise from the forewing base. There is also a distinctive v-shaped dark mark on the posterior corner of the wing. The hind wings of this species are greyish brown in colour.[2]

Distribution

Graphania averilla inhabits mountainous country[4] and has been collected on Mount Egmont,[2] Mount Arthur, around Ben Lomond, Elfin Bay, Lake Luna and Lake MacKenzie in Otago,[3] and at the Cass Basin in the Waimakariri River catchment.[6] The adult moths can be found on the wing in November and December,[3] and have also been recorded in January and February.[6]

Host plants

The larvae of Graphania averilla have been found to feed on the Plantago genus of plants.[6]

References
  1. "Graphania averilla (Hudson, 1921)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  2. Hudson, George Vernon (1921). "Description of a new species of the lepidopterous genus Melanchra Hübn. from New Zealand". Entomologist's Monthly Magazine. 57: 255 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. Philpott, Alfred. "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 55: 663–664 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. Dugdale, J.S. (1988). "Lepidoptera-annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 202.
  5. Hoare, Robert J. B. (9 December 2019). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 2: Nivetica, Ichneutica". Fauna of New Zealand. 80: 1–455. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.80.
  6. White, E. G. "The changing abundance of moths in a tussock grassland, 1962–1989, and 50-to 70-year trends". New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 1991: 5–22. S2CID 89398506.
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