Aponotoreas synclinalis
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aponotoreas synclinalis (also known as the Wirerush looper) is a moth of the family Geometridae.[2][3] It is endemic to New Zealand.[4]
| Aponotoreas synclinalis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male specimen | |
 | |
| Female specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Subfamily: | Larentiinae |
| Tribe: | Hydriomenini |
| Genus: | Aponotoreas |
| Species: | A. synclinalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Aponotoreas synclinalis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Taxonomy
This species was first described by George Vernon Hudson in 1903 as Notoreas synclinalis from a type specimen discovered by Alfred Philpott at Seaward Moss near Invercargill on 4 January 1900.[5] In 1986 R. C. Craw described the new genus Aponotoreas and included A. synclinalis within it.[4]
Distribution
This moth is common in upland areas of the Catlins, Longwood Range and Stewart Island.[6] It is also present in south-west Fiordland.[6] It is unusual as it is only one of two species in its genus where specimens have been collected at sea level.[6]
Behaviour
This species is day flying and is on the wing from January until March.[7]
Host plants
The host plant of the larvae of A. synclinalis is Empodisma minus, the lesser wire rush,[4] and in alpine areas of Stewart Island is Dracophyllum politum.[8]
