''Ichneutica fibriata'' 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 ...

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

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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 ...

. Specimens of this moth were first collected by Frederick Giles Gibbs. The species is similar in appearance to other species in the Ichneutica genus particularly I. eris but can be distinguished due to its larger size and more uniform light grey colour. ''I. fibriata'' also has a similar coloured thorax and head where as these two anatomical features may differ in colour shade in ''I. eris''. Adults frequent alpine areas and are on the wing in November to January. The life history and the host species of the larvae of this species is unknown.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1913 from two specimens collected by Frederick Giles Gibbs and named ''Aletia fibriata''. The male lectotype specimen is held at the

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. Meyrick in an article published in 1914 stated that the original name was misprinted as ''Aletia fibriata'' and the correct spelling was ''Aletia fibrata''. George Hudson, in ''The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand,'' used the species name ''Alentia fibrata'' when discussing the species, however more recent publications use the original name of ''Alentia fibriata''. Prior to 2019, the genus level classification of New Zealand endemic moths within the genus ''Aletia'' was regarded as unsatisfactory and was due for revision. As such the species has also been known as ''Aletia'' (''

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'') ''fibriata''. In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae. During this review the genus ''Ichneutica'' was greatly expanded and the genus ''Aletia'' was subsumed into that genus as a synonym. As a result of this review, this species is now known as ''Ichneutica fibriata.''

Description

Meyrick described the species as having a 44-46mm wingspan. Hudson described the species as follows: This species can be distinguished from similar species by its more uniform slightly grey colour and larger size. The male of the species has a wingspan of between 38 and 46 mm and the female of between 46 and 48.5 mm. It is most similar in appearance to ''I. eris'' but is different in that ''I. fibriata'' has a similar coloured head and thorax in comparison to ''I. eris'' which has a distinctively pale

frons Insect morphology is the study and description of the physical form of insects. The terminology used to describe insects is similar to that used for other arthropods due to their shared evolutionary history. Three physical features separate insec ...

Distribution

''I. fibriata'' is rarely collected but has been found on the eastern side of the South Island. There is one record of this species being collected in the

Paparoa Range The Paparoa Range is a mountain range in the West Coast Region, West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. It was the first New Zealand land seen by a European – Abel Tasman in 1642. Part of the range has the country's highest protection ...

on the West Coast. Specimens have also been collected at Mount Richmond, near Nelson, at Hanmer Springs and there has been one recorded occurrence in the Otago Lakes area.

Habitat

This species frequents alpine areas.

Behaviour

''I. fibriata'' adults are on the wing in November to January.

Life history and host species

The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q104083019 Moths described in 1913 Hadeninae Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand