Physectica phricias
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Physetica
Species:
P. phricias
Binomial name
Physetica phricias
(Meyrick, 1888)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Mamestra phricias Meyrick, 1888
  • Melanchra phricias (Meyrick, 1888)
  • Morrisonia phricias (Meyrick, 1888)
  • Cucullia cellulata Warren, 1911
  • Graphania phricias (Meyrick, 1888)

Physetica phricias is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is wide spread in the South Island and inhabits shrubland. The host of the larvae of this species is matagouri. The adult moths are on the wing from September to May and July, and are attracted both to light and sugar traps.They are a faster-flying species and remain active even during windy conditions. P. phricias can be confused with some forms of P. sequens. However P. phricias can be distinguished as it has a less marbled appearance to its forewing.

Taxonomy

Observation of Physetica phricias

This species was first named by Edward Meyrick as Mamestra phricias in 1888.[2][3] George Hudson described and illustrated this species both in his 1898 book New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) and in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand using the name Melanchra phricias.[4][5] In 1905 George Hampston placed this species within the genus Morrisonia.[6] In 1911 William Warren believing he was describing a new species named it Cucullia cellulata.[7] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale discussed the species under the name Graphania phricias.[8]

In 2017 Robert J. B. Hoare undertook a revision of New Zealand Noctuinae and placed this species within the Physetica genus. As such this species is currently known as Physetica phricias.[1] At the same time Hoare synonymised Cucullia cellulata into that name.[1]

The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[8] The lectotype was collected by R. W. Fereday in Christchurch.[8]

Description

Illustration of Physetica phricias by George Hudson.

The larvae of this species are up to 33mm in length and are grey coloured with the dorsal having a pink shade. The larvae have a black and white sub-dorsal line as well as a broad whiteish lateral band.[1]

Hudson described the adult moth of the species as follows:

The expansion of the wings is about 1+1⁄2 inches. The fore-wings are pale silvery-grey ; there are several obscure blackish marks near the base, two dark, shaded, transverse bands, one just before the orbicular, and one between the orbicular and the reniform ; the orbicular is round, nearly white, with a faint greyish ring in the middle ; the reniform is large, oblong, margined first with white and then with black ; there is a series of black crescentic marks near the termen, and another smaller series on the termen ; the cilia are dark grey. The hind-wings are dull brownish-grey, the cilia are grey tipped with white. The terminal joint of the palpi is elongated.[4]

P. phricias can be confused with some forms of P. sequens. However P. phricias can be distinguished as it has a less marbled appearance to its forewing.[1]

Distribution

This species endemic to New Zealand.[1] It is widespread in the South Island.[1] Hoare pointed out that although both Hudson and E. G. White stated that specimens had been collected in the central and southern North island, he could not find specimens in any collection to confirm this.[1]

Behaviour and biology

The adult moths are on the wing from September to May with some specimens also collected in July.[1] Adult moths are attracted to sugar and light.[4][5] They have been trapped using Robinson light traps.[9] They are a faster-flying species and remain active even during windy conditions.[9]

Habitat and host species

Discaria toumatou, host species of P. phricias.

The preferred habitat of P. phricias is scrubland.[1] The host of the larvae of this species is Discaria toumatou.[10]

Conservation status

P. phricias is currently not regarded as threatened.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hoare, Robert J. B. (23 June 2017). Birgit E. Rhode. "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 1: Austramathes, Cosmodes, Proteuxoa, Physetica" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 73: 1–130. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.73.
  2. ↑ Meyrick, Edward (1888). "Supplement to a Monograph of New Zealand Noctuina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 20: 44–47 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ↑ Meyrick, Edward (May 1887). "Monograph of New Zealand Noctuina". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 19: 3–40 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. 1 2 3 Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & Co. p. 27. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.32466 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. 1 2 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 75.
  6. ↑ Hampson, George F. (1905). Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. Vol. 5. London: Printed by order of the Trustees. pp. 385–386.
  7. ↑ Warren, William (1911). "Description of some new Noctuidae in the Tring Museum". Novitates Zoologicae. 18: 140–148. doi:10.5962/BHL.PART.1692 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  8. 1 2 3 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  9. 1 2 White, E. G. (1991). "The changing abundance of Moths in a Tussock grassland, 1962-1989, and 50- to 70-year trends" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 15: 5–22.
  10. ↑ "Physetica phricias (Meyrick, 1888) - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
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