Orthoclydon praefectata
| Orthoclydon praefectata | |
|---|---|
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| Female specimen | |
| |
| Male specimen | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Orthoclydon |
| Species: | O. praefectata
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| Binomial name | |
| Orthoclydon praefectata | |
| Synonyms | |
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Orthoclydon praefectata, the flax looper moth or flax window maker, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Description
[edit]The wing span of this species is 38–45 mm. The male moth is a pale brown and the female a glossy white.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit]O. praefectata was first described by Francis Walker under the name Acidalia praefectata.[3][4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1898 under the name Xanthorhoe praefectata.[5]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]This moth is endemic to and is widely distributed throughout New Zealand.[6][2]
The habitat/food plant for this moth is the New Zealand native flax Phormium tenax.[2]
Life cycle
[edit]Eggs
[edit]Eggs are straw coloured and are laid on the underside of the flax leaf.[2]
Larva
[edit]The caterpillar is a brown/green colour . It has three dark red lines on its back and a yellow line on each flank. When fully grown it is approximately 2.5 cm long.[2]
Adult
[edit]Adult moths are seen in all the summer months.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]
- ^ "Orthoclydon praefectata (Walker, 1861)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Gaskin, D E (1966). The Butterflies and Common Moths of New Zealand. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. p. 133.
- ^ Francis, Walker (1861). List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Vol. 23. London: British Museum. p. 781. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.58221 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 185. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ Hudson, G. V (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies. London: West, Newman & Co. pp. 60–61. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 460. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.