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''Ichneutica ustistriga'', also known as the ''large grey owlet'', is a moth of the family
George Hudson describes the egg of this species as follows:
Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:
Walker originally described the adults of this species as follows:
The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 36 and 46 mm where as the female has a wingspan of between 38 and 53 mm. This moth has a mauvish grey wing colour and is unlikely to be confused with other species as the patterns on its forewing are distinctive.
The larvae eat a variety of herbaceous plants. Recorded food plants include '' Muehlenbeckia australis,
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 to New Zealand and can be found from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island. This species lives in a wide variety of habitats including domestic gardens, horticultural areas, orchards, native and exotic grasslands, as well as native forest. The larvae eat a variety of herbaceous plants. Recorded food plants include '' Muehlenbeckia australis, Muehlenbeckia complexa
''Muehlenbeckia complexa'', commonly known as ''pohuehue'' ( mi, pōhuehue), although this name also applies to some other climbers such as ''Muehlenbeckia australis''.
Description
''Muehlenbeckia complexa'' is one of 50 species of shrubs, that ...
, Olearia hectorii
''Olearia hectorii'' is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. Its common names include deciduous tree daisy and Hector's tree daisy. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is nationally endangered.
Taxonomy
Members of the ...
,'' and ''Plantago lanceolata
''Plantago lanceolata'' is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is known by the common names ribwort plantain, narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, ribleaf, lamb's tongue, and buckhorn. It is a common weed on c ...
.'' This moth has a mauvish grey wing colour and is unlikely to be confused with other species as the patterns on its forewing are distinctive. This species is on the wing throughout the year and is attracted to both sugar and light traps. Adult moths can be found at rest on fences and tree trunks during the day.
Taxonomy
This species was described by Francis Walker in 1857 using a specimen obtained from William Colenso. The female lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London. In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the ''Graphania'' genus. In 2019Robert Hoare
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae. During this review the genus ''Ichneutica'' was greatly expanded and the genus ''Graphania'' was subsumed into that genus as a synonym. As a result of this review, this species is now known as ''Ichneutica ustistriga''.
Description
George Hudson describes the egg of this species as follows:
Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:
Walker originally described the adults of this species as follows:
The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 36 and 46 mm where as the female has a wingspan of between 38 and 53 mm. This moth has a mauvish grey wing colour and is unlikely to be confused with other species as the patterns on its forewing are distinctive.
Distribution
It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island.Habitat
This species lives in a wide variety of habitats including domestic gardens, horticultural areas, orchards, native and exotic grasslands, as well as native forest.Behaviour
This species is on the wing throughout the year and is attracted to both sugar and light traps. Adult moths can be found at rest on fences and tree trunks during the day.Life history and host species
The larvae eat a variety of herbaceous plants. Recorded food plants include '' Muehlenbeckia australis, Muehlenbeckia complexa
''Muehlenbeckia complexa'', commonly known as ''pohuehue'' ( mi, pōhuehue), although this name also applies to some other climbers such as ''Muehlenbeckia australis''.
Description
''Muehlenbeckia complexa'' is one of 50 species of shrubs, that ...
, Olearia hectorii
''Olearia hectorii'' is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. Its common names include deciduous tree daisy and Hector's tree daisy. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is nationally endangered.
Taxonomy
Members of the ...
,'' and ''Plantago lanceolata
''Plantago lanceolata'' is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is known by the common names ribwort plantain, narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, ribleaf, lamb's tongue, and buckhorn. It is a common weed on c ...
.''
Interaction with humans
A study in 2021 suggests this moth may be assisting with the pollination of avocado trees.References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q104374009 Hadeninae Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Moths described in 1857 Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist) Endemic moths of New Zealand