Gingidiobora nebulosa, the gingidium looper moth, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.
| Gingidiobora nebulosa | |
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| Female | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Gingidiobora |
| Species: | G. nebulosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Gingidiobora nebulosa | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy edit
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1917 and named Xanthorhoe nebulosa.[3] Philpott used specimens collected in February and March at The Bluff, Waiau Toa / Clarence River and at Coverham, Marlborough by Dr. J. A. Thomson and Hugh Hamilton.[4] George Vernon Hudson described and illustrated the species in 1928.[5] In 1987 Robin C. Craw placed this species within the genus Gingidiobora.[6] The type specimen is held at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[3]
Description edit
The larvae are green and smooth.[6]
Philpott described the adults of the species as follows:
♂︎♀︎. 34 mm. Head, thorax, and abdomen whitish-ochreous finely sprinkled with fuscous. Antennae in ♂︎ with rather short pectinations. Forewings triangular, costa strongly arched, sinuate at middle, apex moderately sharp, termen subsinuate, oblique ; ochreous-grey-whitish ; termen broadly margined with greyish-fuscous ; costal edge very narrowly fuscous; a thin curved brown line near base ; first line (anterior edge of median band) irregularly subdentate, curved, brown, from 1⁄3 costa to 1⁄3 dorsum ; second line (posterior edge of median band) irregular, slight triple projection at middle, excurved beneath, from 2⁄3 costa to 3⁄4 dorsum, brown ; an obscure waved pale subterminal line : cilia greyish-ochreous. Hindwings ochreous-grey-whitish ; a median fascia and a broad terminal band greyish-fuscous : cilia greyish-ochreous.[4]
Distribution edit
G. nebulosa is endemic to New Zealand.[2][7] As well as its type locality of Coverham and The Bluff, Clarence River, this species has been found at the Tone River bed and at Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia Conservation Park in Marlborough. It is also present at Macraes Ponds in Waitaki,[8] and in Otago.[9]
Biology and life cycle edit
The larvae feed at night.[6] The species is most commonly seen in March.[5]
Host plant edit
The larvae of G. nebulosa feed on mountain carrot, Gingidia montana.[6][10] This plant suffers from browse reduction which in turn affects the moth population.[11]
Conservation status edit
This species has the "Nationally Vulnerable" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b 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). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 6.
- ^ a b "Gingidiobora nebulosa (Philpott, 1917)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ a b Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 180. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ a b Philpott, Alfred (1917). "Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 49: 239–245 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 115.
- ^ a b c d Craw, R. C. (1987). "Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14 (2): 269–293. doi:10.1080/03014223.1987.10422997.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 457. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
- ^ "Waitaki District Plan, Appendix C" (PDF). www.waitaki.govt.nz. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review: Middlehurst. Conservation Resources Report - Part 2 (PDF) (Report). Land Information New Zealand. 2010. pp. 1–57. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 23. ISBN 978-0478218671. OCLC 154670803. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- ^ "New Threatened Species List Announced Today | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
External links edit
