Ichneutica supersulcana

Ichneutica supersulcana is a moth of the family Noctuidae.[1] This species is endemic to New Zealand and is only known from the Tararua Ranges and at Tongariro National Park. This species has been collected in subalpine tussock grasslands as well as subalpine shrubland and at the margins of Fuscospora cliffortioides forest. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. The adults of this species are on the wing in February and are attracted to light. It appears to be restricted to higher altitudes in comparison to its close relative I. sulcana. I. sulcana and I. supersulcana are very similar in appearance with no reliable visible differences between the two having been discovered. However, there are distinct differences in the male abdomen and genitalia of these two species.

Ichneutica supersulcana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Ichneutica
Species:
I. supersulcana
Binomial name
Ichneutica supersulcana
Hoare, 2019[1]

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Robert Hoare in 2019.[2] The male holotype specimen was collected by G. W. Gibbs at the Dundas Hut in the Tararua Range and is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[2]

Description

The adult male wingspan is between 41 and 47 mm whereas the female wingspan is 48 mm.[2] I. sulcana and I. supersulcana are very similar in appearance with no reliable visible differences between the two having been discovered.[2] However I. supersulcana tends to be larger and paler with less well defined longitudinal dark streaks to its forewings.[2] There are distinct differences in the male abdomen and genitalia of these two species.[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[3] It is only known from the North Island and has only been collected in the Tararua Ranges and at Tongariro National Park.[2] It appears to be restricted to higher altitudes in comparison to its close relative I. sulcana.[2]

Habitat

This species has been collected in subalpine tussock grasslands as well as subalpine shrubland and at the margins of Fuscospora cliffortioides forest.[2]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing in February and are attracted to light.[2]

Life history and host species

The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae.[2]

References
  1. "Ichneutica supersulcana Hoare, 2019". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  2. Hoare, Robert J. B. (9 December 2019). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 2: Nivetica, Ichneutica". Fauna of New Zealand. 80: 1–455. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.80.
  3. "Ichneutica supersulcana Hoare, 2019". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
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