''Ichneutica eris'' is a

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 ...

of the family Noctuidae. 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 else ...

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 ...

. It is found in alpine habitat in the South Island and is on the wing from November to February. The species is attracted to light.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Robert Hoare in 2019. The holotype specimen was collected near the

Homer Tunnel The Homer Tunnel is a 1.2 km (0.75 miles) long road tunnel in the Fiordland region of the South Island of New Zealand, opened in 1953. New Zealand State Highway 94 passes through the tunnel, linking Milford Sound to Te Anau and Queensto ...

by John Salmon in 1946. ''I. eris'' was named in honour of Eris in light of the difficulty of the confusion this species has caused lepidopterists.

Description

Adults of this species are brownish-grey in colour, with whitish markings on the forewings as well as greyish dots along the forewing edge. The hindwings are grey in colour. The wingspan range for the male of the species is between 37 and 46 mm, and for the female is between 43 and 51 mm. This species is similar in appearance to both '' I. cana and I. fibriata.''

Habitat and geographic range

This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the South Island in alpine habitat. This species overlaps with the range of ''I. cana'' although it appears to be more restricted in range than that species. However, ''I. eris'' can be found in the mountains surrounding

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

, whereas ''I. cana'' is not present in that locality.

Life history

Little is known of the life history of this species. However, it is possible that the larvae exist on short alpine grasses and pupate on bare soil.

Behaviour

Adults of this species are on the wing from November to February. This species also appears to be attracted to light.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q104074564 Moths described in 2019 Moths of New Zealand Noctuinae Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Robert Hoare Endemic moths of New Zealand