Orthoclydon praefectata
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Orthoclydon praefectata, the flax looper moth or flax window maker, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
| Orthoclydon praefectata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female specimen | |
 | |
| Male specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Orthoclydon |
| Species: | O. praefectata |
| Binomial name | |
| Orthoclydon praefectata | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
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
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
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
Predators and parasites
The larvae of this species are known to be parasitised by wasps such as Netelia ephippiata, Lissopimpla excelsa and Rogas. They are also known to be preyed upon by hoverfly larvae such as those in Melangyna novaezealandiae and Allograpta ropala.[7]
