Ichneutica phaula

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1887 from specimens bred in tussock grass.[3] The lectotype is held at the Canterbury Museum.[4] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the Tmetolophota genus.[4] In 2019 Robert Hoare undertook a major review of New Zealand Noctuidae species.[2] During this review the genus Ichneutica was greatly expanded and the genus Tmetolophota was subsumed into that genus as a synonym. As a result of this review, this species is now known as Ichneutica phaula.[2]

Ichneutica phaula illustrated by George Hudson.

Meyrick described this species as follows:

Male.— 38 mm. Head, palpi, antennae, thorax, abdomen, and legs light brownish-ochreous ; antennae with moderate triangular longitudinal dentations, terminating in tufts of cilia. Forewings moderately dilated, costa almost straight, apex obtuse, hindmargin somewhat oblique, rounded beneath ; rather light fuscous, ochreous-tinged ; veins marked with scattered white and black scales ; an obscure white dot at each extremity of transverse vein ; a minute black dot towards inner margin at 1⁄3 ; a posterior series of obscure minute black dots, bent above middle : ciha fuscous, base more ochreous, tips whitish. Hindwings fuscous-grey, base somewhat lighter ; cilia whitish-ochreous, with a faint grey line, tips more whitish.[3]

The adult male has a wingspan of between 32 and 40 mm and the adult female has a wingspan of between 36 and 45 mm.[2] This species is very similar in appearance to I. micastra, although the ranges of the two species appears not to overlap.[2] I. phaula can be distinguished as there is a difference in pectinations on its antennae.[2] Also both male and female I. phaula are lighter and less chunky than I. micastra.[2] I. phaula is also similar to I. sapiens but I. phaula tends to be a paler species with I. sapiens having a more reddish tinge.[2]

I. phaula is endemic to New Zealand.[5] This species is found only in the South Island, in the Nelson district, on the eastern side of the South Island and on Stewart Island.[2]

This species has been found in tussock grasslands as well as in coastal sand dunes.[2]

Adults of this species are on the wing from October to December and are attracted to sugar traps.[2]

Pingao (Ficinia spiralis), a host species of I. phaula.

Some portions of this species life history is unknown but the larval host species include Ficinia spiralis, Ammophila arenaria, Poa cita and other "tussock grasses".[2]