Ichneutica fenwicki is a moth of the family Noctuidae.[2] This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern parts of the South Island and on Stewart Island. It is a distinctively coloured moth that is unlikely to be confused with closely related species. It is a spring flying moth being on the wing from September to November. The life history and host species of the larvae of I. fenwicki are unknown.
| Ichneutica fenwicki | |
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Ichneutica |
| Species: | I. fenwicki
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| Binomial name | |
| Ichneutica fenwicki (Philpott, 1921)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Taxonomy edit
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1921 using a specimen collected by Charles Cuthbert Fenwick in Dunedin in September.[3] Philpott originally named the species Melanchra fenwicki.[3] The holotype specimen is held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[1] In 1930 Philpott, thinking he was describing a new species, also named the species Melanchra dives.[4] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale, in his catalogue of New Zealand lepidoptera, placed this species within the genus Graphania and synonymised Melanchra dives with G. fenwicki.[5]
In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae.[1] During this review the genus Ichneutica was greatly expanded and the genus Graphania was subsumed into that genus as a synonym.[1] As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica fenwicki.[1]
Description edit
Philpott described the species as follows:
♂. 37 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax reddish-brown. Antennae reddish-brown, bipectinated, apex simple, pectinations 3+1⁄2. Abdomen greyish-brown, lateral and anal tufts reddish-ochreous. Legs reddish-brown, tarsi obscurely annulated with paler. Forewings moderate, costa slightly sinuate, termen evenly rounded, oblique ; dark reddish-brown ; an obscure basal fascia mixed with blackish ; stigmata ringed with ochreous-white, faintly margined with black ; orbicular circular, well defined ; claviform sub-circular, obscure ; reniform upright, regular ; subterminal line parallel with termen, thin, slightly and irregularly serrate, ochreous-white, suffusedly margined anteriorly with brownish-black : cilia uniform reddish-brown. Hindwings and cilia pale reddish-fuscous, tips of cilia whitish.[3]
The male of this species has a wingspan of between 36 and 42 mm and the female of the species has a wingspan of between 43 and 47 mm.[1] I. fenwicki is distinctive in appearance and its large size, the brown-red shade of ground colour as well as the dark markings on its forewings ensure it is unlikely to be confused with closely related species.[1]
Distribution edit
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This species is endemic to New Zealand.[6] It is only found in the southern parts of the South Island and on Stewart Island.[1] It occurs locality in such places as Swampy Summit and Mt Cargill in Dunedin and at Tautuku Peninsula and Purakaunui Bay in The Catlins.[1]
Behaviour edit
Adults of this species are on the wing from September to November.[1] This species is attracted to light.[7]
Life cycle and host species edit
The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of the larvae of I. fenwicki.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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.
- ^ "Ichneutica fenwicki (Philpott, 1921)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ a b c Philpott, Alfred (1921). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 53: 337–342 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Philpott, Alfred (1930). "New Species of Lepidoptera in the Collection of the Auckland Museum". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 1: 1–16. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42905932. Wikidata Q58676529.
- ^ Dugdale, John Stewart (1988-09-23). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264.
- ^ "Ichneutica fenwicki (Philpott, 1921)". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ Patrrick, B. H.; Archibald, R. D. (January 1988). "Lepidoptera light-trapped at Owaka, South Otago". New Zealand Entomologist. 11 (1): 70–72. doi:10.1080/00779962.1988.9722541. ISSN 0077-9962.