Notoreas edwardsi
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Notoreas edwardsi is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as Nationally Critical by the Department of Conservation.
| Notoreas edwardsi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female | |
 | |
| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Notoreas |
| Species: | N. edwardsi |
| Binomial name | |
| Notoreas edwardsi | |
Taxonomy
Description
N. edwardsi larvae start off life green in colour but quickly change to brown.[3] As they mature their colour changes again to pink purple with white lines running side to side on their body.[3]
Adult moths of this species have pallid orange and white transverse markings on their forewings with orange and black-marked hindwings.[3] N. edwardsi is similar in appearance to its close relations N. elegans and N. casanova.[3]
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[2] It only occurs at Big Sandhill, Mission Bay on Stewart Island.[3]
Life cycle and behaviour
This species has only been seen in its natural habitat in December but it has been hypothesised that it may produce two broods in a season.[3] The female moth lays her eggs within the flowers buds of their hostplant.[4] When the larvae emerge from their eggs, they eat into the leaves or buds of their host, hiding from predators.[4] Once they are large enough, they emerge to feed from the fresh growth of the plant.[4] N. edwardsi pupate in a loose cocoon on the ground under their host.[4] The species spends approximately 43 days in their cocoon before emerging as an adult.[3] N. edwardsi are day flying moths.[4] They are low but fast flyers and constantly vibrate their wings to enable them to take off rapidly.[4]
Host species
The host plant for the larvae of N. edwardsi is the endemic plant Pimelea lyallii.[3]
Conservation status
This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical.[1]
