Apoctena orthocopa

Apoctena orthocopa, also known as striped ponga leaf-tyer, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found only on the North Island.

Apoctena orthocopa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Apoctena
Species:
A. orthocopa
Binomial name
Apoctena orthocopa
(Meyrick, 1924)[1]
Synonyms
  • Tortrix orthocopa Meyrick, 1924

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1924 and named Tortrix orthocopa.[2] The specimens used by Meyrick were collected by George Hudson in Wellington in January.[2]

Description

The larvae of this species are pale green with a brown head and when mature are up to 20 mm in length.[3]

Meyrick described the adults of this species as follows:

♂♀. 18–21 mm. Head, palpi, thorax whitish-ochreous. Forewings sub-oblong, costa in ♂ with moderate fold from base to 25, termen sinuate, hardly oblique; pale ochreous, sometimes tinged brownish; markings variably tinged lilac and edged with dark-brown streaks; edge of basal patch very oblique, on costal half obsolete; edges of central fascia nearly straight, very oblique, anterior from 14 of costa to 34 of dorsum, posterior from beyond middle of costa to termen above tornus, sometimes a lighter spot edged posteriorly with one or two dark strigulae occupying anterior part of central fascia on costa; costal spot very faint, edged anteriorly by a very oblique brown striga, sometimes faintly continued sinuate to middle of termen: cilia pale ochreous, two brownish lines more or less marked. Hingwings, ♂ whitish-grey, ♀ ochreous-grey-whitish, a very few small cloudy greyish flecks; cilia concolorous.[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island.[3]

Behaviour

The larva of this species fold the fronds of its host and tie them with silk creating a shelter in which to hide.[3] The adult of this species is on the wing from January to March.[3]

Host plant

The larvae feed on Cyathea species including the silver fern.[4][3]

References

  1. "Apoctena orthocopa (Meyrick, 1924)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  2. Meyrick, Edward (1924). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 55: 661–662 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. Andrew Crowe (2004). Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns: Featuring the unique caterpillars which feed on them. p. 26. ISBN 0-14-301924-4. Wikidata Q115211440.
  4. Dugdale, J.S. (July 1990). "Reassessment of Ctenopseustis Meyrick and Planotortrix Dugdale with descriptions of two new genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 17 (3): 437–465. doi:10.1080/03014223.1990.10422943. ISSN 0301-4223.


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