Orthoclydon praefectata
| Orthoclydon praefectata | |
|---|---|
| File:Orthoclydon praefectata female.jpg | |
| Female specimen | |
| File:Orthoclydon praefectata male.jpg | |
| Male specimen | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Orthoclydon |
| Species: | O. praefectata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Orthoclydon praefectata | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Orthoclydon praefectata, the flax looper moth or flax window maker, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Description
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Eggs
[edit | edit source]Eggs are straw coloured and are laid on the underside of the flax leaf.[2]
Larva
[edit | edit source]The caterpillar is a brown/green colour . It has three dark red lines on its back and a yellow line on each flank. When fully grown it is approximately 2.5 cm long.[2]
Adult
[edit | edit source]Adult moths are seen in all the summer months.[2]
Predators and parasites
[edit | edit source]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]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- https://web.archive.org/web/20081018023812/http://ento.org.nz/nzentomologist/free_issues/Weta20_1_1997/Weta20%281%29_17_20.pdf
- http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/animals/bug-id/alphabetic-list-of-bugs/flax-looper-damage
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