''Dasyuris octans'' is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the

Department of Conservation An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment, ...

Taxonomy

This species was first described by George Hudson in 1923 using a specimen discovered by

Stewart Lindsay Stewart may refer to: People *Stewart (name), Scottish surname and given name *Clan Stewart, a Scottish clan * Clan Stewart of Appin, a Scottish clan Places Canada *Stewart, British Columbia *Stewart Township, Nipissing District, Ontario (hist ...

in the Hunter Mountains near Lake Manapouri at 4000 ft. Hudson described and illustrated the species in his 1928 publication ''The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand''. The lectotype is held at the

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand's national museum and is located in Wellington. ''Te Papa Tongarewa'' translates literally to "container of treasures" or in full "container of treasured things and people that spring fr ...

Description

Hudson described the species as follows: This species can be mistaken for '' Dasyuris hectori'' but can be distinguished from that species as ''D. octans'' is smaller, much narrower and has a more orange-ocherous tint.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. Along with the type locality, this species has been collected at Homer, as well as at the Rahine Range, Kaikoura Ranges, Jack's Pass in Hanmer,

Porters Pass Porters Pass (elevation 939 metres) is a mountain pass in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is near Lake Lyndon and is located within Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park. State Highway 73 travels through the pass on its ...

Mount Cook Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...

Macetown Macetown is an historic gold mining settlement in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is now uninhabited but has become a tourist attraction. Access to the town is via an unsealed road that heads up the steep-sided Arrow gorge. ...

, Vanguard Peak and Advance Peak in

Otago Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government reg ...

, Kepler Mountains and Eglinton Valley at Milford Sound.

Biology and life cycle

This species is on the wing in December. It is a day flying moth.

Host plant and habitat

Charles E. Clarke Charles Ezra Clarke (April 8, 1790 – December 29, 1863) was a U.S. Representative from New York. Biography Clarke was born in Saybrook, Connecticut on April 8, 1790. He completed preparatory studies and graduated from Yale College in 18 ...

notes he captured specimens flying over lichen covered rocks in native grass and herb habitat.

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the

New Zealand Threat Classification system The New Zealand Threat Classification System is used by the Department of Conservation to assess conservation priorities of species in New Zealand. The system was developed because the IUCN Red List, a similar conservation status system, had some ...

as being "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon".

References

External links

Image of lectotype specimen held at the Museum of New Zealand Te papa Tongarewa.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q13547356 Larentiinae Moths of New Zealand Moths described in 1923 Endemic fauna of New Zealand Endangered biota of New Zealand Taxa named by George Hudson Endemic moths of New Zealand