Ichneutica morosa

This species was described by Arthur Butler in 1880.[2] The male holotype was collected in Marlborough by Mr Skellon and is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[3] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the Graphania genus.[3] In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae.[4] During this review the genus Ichneutica was greatly expanded and the genus Graphania was subsumed into that genus as a synonym.[4] As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica morosa.[4]

Observation of Ichneutica morosa

Grey form of Ichneutica morosa

Butler described the adults of the species as follows:

Allied to X. lignana, and referable to the X. rurea group, smoky-brown, primaries with the internal area and disc paler; ordinary spots greyish with black-edged white borders, the reniform extending over the base of the second median interspace and streaked with blackish, a line of which colour runs backwards from it along the median vein; a black-edged white spot close to the base of the interno-median area and three at equal distances on the costal margin ; three white costal dots beyond the cell ; ordinary lines obsolete ; a discal series of black and white dots on the veins followed by a series of externally yellowish-edged ferruginous lunules between the veins ; two dusky, somewhat triangular, patches on outer border, with black spots upon them at the extremities of the veins; fringe black spotted and traversed by a central black line; secondaries shining smoky-brown; fringe with a grey-edged yellow basal line; externally silvery-white; head and thorax brown, traversed by bisinuated darker lines ; abdomen shining greyish-brown; anal segment blackish at the base, with lateral reddish-brown fringe ; body below pinky-whitish, front of pectus pale purplish-brown; knees black, posterior tibiae striped at the end with black; venter with lateral black spots ; primaries below shining grey, with cupreous reflections, border whitish ; costal borders crossed towards the apex by grey lines; a marginal series of black dots; fringe rather paler than above; secondaries whitish, with cupreous reflections; a grey discocellular dot; a brown discal line; a marginal series of black dots. Expanse of wings 1 inch 6 lines.[2]

The male adult of this species has a wingspan of between 32 and 40 mm and the female has a wingspan of between 34 and 38 mm.[4] This species also has a grey colour morph with the head and thorax being a grey and mottled brown, and the forewing being a pale greyish ochreous to a deep brown, suffused with grey.[4] I. morosa can be confused with I. mustulenta and I. lignana.[4]

It is endemic to New Zealand.[5] This species is found in the southern parts of the North Island and throughout the South Island.[4]

I. morosa is common in the eastern drier parts of both the South and North Island and at a range of altitudes lowlands to the alpine zone above 900 m.[4] It also occurs in Fiordland where the rainfall is higher.[4] I. morosa is absent from the range of its closely related species I. mustulenta, that is from the northern North Island.[4]

The adults of this species is on the wing from November to April.[4]

Poa astonii, larval host species of I. morosa

The life history of this species is poorly documented as are the host species of its larvae.[4] As at 2019 the larvae is undescribed but are known to feed on Poa astonii and also on other Poa species including introduced species.[4] The adults are known to feed on blossoms at night and Hudson witnessed adults of this species feeding on white rata flowers.[4]