Ischalis variabilis
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Genus:
Ischalis
Species:
I. variabilis
Binomial name
Ischalis variabilis
Synonyms[2]
  • Polygonia variabilis Warren, 1895
  • Gonophylla ophiopa Meyrick, 1897
  • Azelina variabilis (Warren, 1895)
  • Azelina ophiopa (Meyrick, 1897)

Ischalis variabilis, also known as oblique-waved fern looper, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae first described by William Warren in 1895.[3][2] It is endemic to New Zealand,[1] where it is widespread in the North and South islands.[4]

Taxonomy

This species was first described by William Warren in 1895 and originally named Polygonia variabilis.[1] In 1970 Robert W. Poole placed this species in the genus Ischalis.[5]

Description

I. variabilis at Otari-Wilton's Bush, Wellington

There are two to three distinct transverse lines on the forewing.[6] Both sexes have four discal spots which are usually visible dorsally as well as ventrally. Adults have been recorded year round, except June on the North Island. The main flight period is September to March.[7] There seem to be two generations per year, but may breed continuously during mild winters.[4] The adult moths can be collected by beating the skirt of the dead fronds of their host species.[7]

The eggs are usually deposited in January and February. They are almost hemispherical, slightly ovate, flattened, pale bluish-green in colour, covered with numerous very slight hexagonal depressions. As the enclosed embryo develops, small irregular reddish-brown patches appear on the surface of the egg-shell.[8]

Host species

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Cyathea and Dicksonia species including Cyathea smithii, Cyathea dealbata and Dicksonia squarrosa.[9][7] First-instar larvae are very pale ochreous brown, with two wavy orange-red subdorsal lines. Full-grown larvae are about 32 mm long and pale rusty brown with an obscure pale-brown dorsal line.[7] The larvae feed at night.[7] Pupation takes place in a pupa enclosed in a curled fern leaf or hidden amongst leaf litter on the ground.[4]

References

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Wikispecies has information related to Ischalis variabilis.
  1. 1 2 3 "Ischalis variabilis (Warren, 1895)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 166. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
  3. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 459. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  4. 1 2 3 Weintraub, Jason D.; Scoble, Malcolm J. (29 April 2004). "Lithinini (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae)". Fauna of New Zealand. 49: 1–48. ISSN 1179-7193. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  5. ↑ Robert W. Poole (1970). "Transfer of four New Zealand geometrids from the genus Azelina (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 72 (1): 135. ISSN 0013-8797. Wikidata Q123614994.
  6. ↑ Warren, William (1895). "New species and genera of Geometridae in the Tring Museum". Novitates Zoologicae. 2: 82–159 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Andrew Crowe (2004). Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns: Featuring the unique caterpillars which feed on them. p. 27. ISBN 0-14-301924-4. Wikidata Q115211440.
  8. ↑ Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 148.
  9. ↑ Moeed, Abdul; Meads, M. J. (1983). "Invertebrate fauna of four tree species in Orongorongo Valley, New Zealand, as revealed by trunk traps" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 6: 39–53.


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