''Austramathes pessota'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

in the family

Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and is found in Northland, in the southern North Island and in the South Island, mainly on the eastern side of that island but is also present in Fiordland. It is not regarded as being present in either

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...

or the

Southland district Southland District is a Districts of New Zealand, territorial authority district in New Zealand that covers the south of the South Island as well as Stewart Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura. History Southland District was formed through the 1989 lo ...

. This species lives in

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...

at altitudes ranging from sea-level up to subalpine. As at 2017, the larvae have yet to be described or photographed but it is known that they feed on ''

Melicytus alpinus ''Melicytus alpinus'', the mahoe porcupine shrub, is a small shrub of the family Violaceae endemic to New Zealand. Description ''Melicytus alpinus'' get their common name, porcupine shrub, from the long, almost leafless, spindly branches which ...

'' and it is likely that ''

Melicytus micranthus ''Melicytus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. ''Hymenanthera'' is a synonym. Species * ''Melicytus alpinus'' – porcupine shrub (New Zealand) *''Melicytus angustifolius'' (New Zealand) Melicytus_dentatus.html" ;"title=" ...

'' is also a host. Adults of this species are distinctively patterned and coloured. Its appearance differs from its close relatives such as '' A. purpurea'' as it lacks the purple hue that can be seen on the latter species forewings. It also differs from '' A. coelacantha'' as it is much darker and has a distinctive small, round, pale mark on its forewing. Adults are on the wing from December to April.

Taxonomy

''A. pessota'' was first described by

Edward Meyrick Edward Meyrick (25 November 1854, in Ramsbury – 31 March 1938, at Thornhanger, Marlborough) was an English schoolmaster and amateur entomologist. He was an expert on microlepidoptera and some consider him one of the founders of modern micr ...

in 1887 under the name ''Miselia pessota'' using specimens collected in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

. In 1906 this species was tentatively placed in the genus ''

Sympistis ''Sympistis'' is a genus of moths of the family Noctuidae. The genus was erected by Jacob Hübner Jacob Hübner (20 June 1761 – 13 September 1826, in Augsburg) was a German entomologist. He was the author of ''Sammlung Europäischer Schmetter ...

'' by

George Hampson Sir George Francis Hampson, 10th Baronet (14 January 1860 – 15 October 1936) was an English entomologist. Hampson studied at Charterhouse School and Exeter College, Oxford. He travelled to India to become a tea-planter in the Nilgiri Hills o ...

. Meyrick, in 1911, disagreed with this placement but somewhat doubtfully suggested placing the species in the genus '' Hypnotype''. Meyrick again reconsidered the taxonomy of this species in 1914 and placed it within the genus '' Andesia''. IN 1988 J. S. Dugdale agreed with this placement. Robert J. B. Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand

and placed it within the genus ''

Austramathes ''Austramathes'' is a genus of moths of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. Species The following species are found within the genus: * ''Austramathes purpurea ''Austramathes purpurea'' is a species of moth in the family ...

'' in 2017. The female

lectotype In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes the ...

was collected at

Riccarton Bush Riccarton is a suburb of Christchurch. It is due west of the city centre, separated from it by Hagley Park. Upper Riccarton is to the west of Riccarton. History On 12 April 1840, the ship ''Sarah and Elizabeth'' landed Herriot, McGillivray, ...

and is held in the Fereday Collection at the Canterbury Museum.

Description

As at 2017, the larva of this species has not been described nor photographed.

George Hudson George Hudson (probably 10 March 1800 – 14 December 1871) was an English railway financier and politician who, because he controlled a significant part of the railway network in the 1840s, became known as "The Railway King"—a title conferr ...

described the adults of this species as follows: The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 25 and 28 mm and the female has a wingspan of between 28 and 32 mm. This species is distinctively patterned and coloured. Its appearance differs from its close relatives such as '' A. purpurea'' as it lacks the purple hue that can be seen on the latter species forewings. It also differs from '' A. coelacantha'' as it is much darker and has a distinctive small, round, pale mark on its forewing.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. ''A. pessota'' can be found in Northland, in the southern North Island and in the South Island, mainly on the eastern side of that island but is also present in Fiordland. This species is not regarded as being present in

or the

Habitat

This species lives in

at altitudes ranging from sea-level up to subalpine.

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing from December to April.

Host species

Larvae of this species feed on ''

'' and Hoare states it is likely that ''

'' is also a host.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q51066295 Cuculliinae Moths described in 1887 Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand