Paradetis
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| Genus: | Paradetis Meyrick, 1885
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| Species: | P. porphyrias
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| Binomial name | |
| Paradetis porphyrias (Meyrick, 1883)
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Generic
Specific
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Paradetis is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae.[2] Its only species, Paradetis porphyrias, also known as the orange and purple fern looper, is endemic to New Zealand. The genus and species were first described by Edward Meyrick, the genus in 1885 and the species in 1883. It is found in both the North and South Islands. This species frequents the ferny glens and the banks of mountain streams. It is thought to be widespread in native forests with high rainfall. The larvae likely feeds on the fern Hypolepis millefolium. Adults are commonly on the wing from December to February and fly by the day close to the ground. When at rest the adult has its fore-wings placed slightly backwards, the antennae extended forwards and the end of the abdomen turned upwards. Adults have been trapped via a Mercury-vapour lamp.
Taxonomy
[edit]This genus was originally named Parysatis by Meyrick in 1883.[3][4] However in 1885 Meyrick renamed this genus Paradetis as the former name was preoccupied.[5]
This species was first described by Meyrick in 1883 under the name Parysatis porphyrias.[1][3] Meyrick went on to give a more detailed description of the species in 1884.[4] In 1885 Meyrick renamed the genus of this species Paradetis and from that time this species has been known as Paradetis porphyrias.[5] George Hudson illustrated and discussed this species under this name in both of his books New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) in 1898 and The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand in 1928.[6][7] The female holotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[1]
Description
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The larva of this species is thin and green and when mature is 20 mm long.[8]
Meyrick described the adult female of the species as follows:
Female. — 20 mm. Forewings moderate, costa sinuate in middle, apex almost acute, hindmargin deeply excavated on upper half and more shortly on lower third, so as to project bluntly below middle; yellow-ochreous, irregularly mixed with brown and purplish; veins clearly marked with fuscous; two slender ochreous-brown transverse lines, dilated on costa, first before middle, bent inwards near costa, second beyond middle, almost straight; beyond second a broad purplish shade, except near costa, dilated beneath to reach hindmargin; hindmargin purple: cilia white on excavations. Hindwings moderate, hindmargin shortly sinuate near inner angle; pale ochreous mixed with fuscous and purplish; a fuscous transverse fine before middle; a very broad purplish hindmarginal band.[4]
Hudson described the adults of this species as follows:
The expansion of the wings of the male is about 3⁄4 inch; of the female fully 7⁄8 inch. The fore-wings of the male are deep purplish-brown; there is a wavy, reddish, transverse line at about 1⁄3 and another at about 2⁄3 between these two lines near the dorsum there are often several more or less distinct, yellow marks; there is a conspicuous orange-yellow patch at the apex. The hind-wings are deep purplish-brown. The cilia of all the wings are white. The fore-wing has the apex hooked and the termen deeply excavated above and below the middle. The female is very much paler; the lines are more distinct and the veins are marked in brown.[7]
Distribution
[edit]P. porphyrias is endemic to New Zealand.[9] Meyrick first collected the species near Ōtira Gorge at Arthur's Pass in January.[4] The species has also been found at Mount Arthur, Castle Hill in Canterbury and Lake Wakatipu.[7] It has also been observed in the Wellington region.[7][10]
Habitat and host species
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Hudson stated that this species inhabits ferny glens in beech forests and often can be seen in open spots in this habitat.[7] Alfred Philpott mentioned that the species frequented the banks of mountain streams.[11] This species is thought to be widespread in native forests with high-rainfall.[12] P. porphyrias larvae likely feed on Hypolepis millefolium.[13][8]
Behaviour
[edit]Adults of this species are on the wing from December until February and fly by day with a dizzying flight close to the ground.[7] When at rest the adult has its fore-wings placed slightly backwards, the antennae extended forwards and the end of the abdomen turned upwards. When the fern fronds wither they turn a purplish-brown colour like the moth and it is consequently very inconspicuous and difficult to capture.[7] This species has been trapped via a Mercury-vapour lamp.[14]
References
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- ^ a b c Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 186. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Paradetis". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ a b Meyrick, Edward (1883). "Monograph of New Zealand Geometrina [abstract]". New Zealand Journal of Science. 1: 526–531 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d Meyrick, Edward (1884). "A monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16: 49–113 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b Meyrick, Edward (1885). "Notes on Nomenclature of New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Institute of New Zealand. 18: 184 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London. p. 41. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.32466. OCLC 727236768. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - ^ a b c d e f g Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. pp. 14, 109. OCLC 25449322. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b Andrew Crowe (2004). Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns: Featuring the unique caterpillars which feed on them. p. 25. ISBN 0-14-301924-4. Wikidata Q115211440.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume Two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 460. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
- ^ George Vernon Hudson (June 1900). "Notes on Macro-lepidoptera observed during the Summer of 1898–99". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 32: 11. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q131624170.
- ^ Philpott, Alfred (1917). "A list of the Lepidoptera of Otago". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 49: 195–238.
- ^ Toft, Richard (April 2014). "Potential Effects of the Waitaha Hydro Scheme on Terrestrial Invertebrates" (PDF). westpower.co.nz. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment - Paradetis porphyrias". Plant-SyNZ. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- ^ T. H. Davies (January 1973). "LIST OF LEPIDOPTERA COLLECTED IN AREAS SURROUNDING HASTINGS AND NAPIER" (PDF). New Zealand Entomologist. 5 (2): 213. doi:10.1080/00779962.1973.9723002. ISSN 0077-9962. Wikidata Q54755566. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2013.