New Zealand Lepidoptera news

[John Grehan]

I've reproduced (with permission) below some news items being 
circulated in New Zealand regarding collecting and observing Lepidoptera 
and other insects by Brain Patrick (bpatrick at xtra.co.nz). I will post further
reports in the future as they come to hand. Note the extensive use of 
 binomials. Common names are less frequently used in for 
many New Zealand insects and in the context of this posting would
probably not be as meaningful.

John Grehan


January 2001
Hi all,
hope this email doesn't interrupt your productive summer collecting!
Even though the summer climate here has been very changeable so far, I have
had my most exciting summer to date.
Robin has had a magnificent catch. He has found an isolated colony of
boulder coppers in an area apparently devoid of them - eastern Otago- south
Otago. There was no known coastal or near coastal population between Tiwai
Point-Awarua Bay by Invercargill, and Waianakarua in north Otago! Robin and
me had both found scraps of the foodplant along the south Otago coast but no
moths. Over Christmas Robin found a population at Crystalls Beach in a
carpark/ pasture. A marvellous find and a species quite unlike both that in
Invercargill area and north Otago.
Detective work by Robert in the NZAC collection has revealed a new, probable
endemic, large casemoth in our fauna in the genus Liothula. Distinguished by
differently formed larval case, male antennae and male hind wing shape. Well
done!
After Boxing Day I headed for south Canterbury but stopped en route at
Trotters Gorge for a night of light trapping. What a night!  96 moth species
later I was stunned. I had collected and seen my first live Asaphodes
stinaria (male & female) (Catagory A threatened species) despite writing
about it last year, found first eastern Otago antlion adult and obtained
about 20 new moth records for this regularly trapped reserve.
We camped amidst a mass emergence of green stoners, mayflies, huhu beetles,
caddis and dobsonflies. It was exciting for the whole family!
The A. stinaria female arrived at the trap at 1.15am and subsequently laid
eggs which I have now happily feeding on Ranunculus. After 15 years of
trying, I finally have feeding larvae!
On another rearing front:
The true foodplant of Asaphodes chlamydota is Clematis I think. After
feeding slowly on Ranunculus for weeks, when given Clematis they thrived.
The larvae have an arboreal look about them compared to normal Asaphodes
too. This foodplant much better fits where I have found the adults in the
past, sometimes in areas devoid of Ranunculus. So we have a Clematis feeding
Geometrid. Beat some Clematis and see if you can confirm this.
The next day we explored Meyers Pass in South Canterbury for the first time
and found fascinating shrublands and cliffs to explore. The usual mix of
Olearia larvae and moths were found too - all new geographical records.
Similarly in the upper Waitaki Valley at Wharekuri we light trapped a rich
shrubland and got the new Declana, Pasiphila  and Pseudocoremia known to
feed on Olearia, along with two described species.  A surprising 76 moth
species were trapped in this dry shrubland community underlining the
biodiversity value of such sites.
We spent three days on Fox Peak skifield, South Canterbury, next, trapping
at several altitudes in rich shrubland (1120m), snowgrass 1330m and high
alpine communities. In total about 80 moths were found including a new
Dichromodes species at 1820m, the second only specimen of Helastia ohauensis
at 1120m, Asterivora exocha from its larval host Brachyglottis cassinioides
at 1100m, a large ennomid Geometrid that is new to me, seven Orocrambus
species at 1330m including more specimens of an undescribed species
previously found from Mackenzie country, about 20 Proditrix megalynta and a
possible new Scoparia species. A very interesting trip rewarded with lots of
Percnodaimon merula, two species of tussock butterfly and boulder
butterflies at high altitude on our last day there.
Travelled home via The Hermitage at Mt Cook to meet up with A Victorian
lepidopterist Ted Shimba from Melbourne. We had communicated via email. When
I arrived there he was out in the sun photographing coppers at Hebe
blossoms. Subsequently he visited the Otago Museum and had a look at our
butterfly collections.
We had four days in our caravan near Alexandra exploring rock faces,
saltpans and shrublands. A few new records for our property were recorded.A
few hot days here of in excess of 30 degrees.
A week ago we took off on a long weekend trip to Fiordland via Waipori
Valley. The night at Waipori produced a record 115 moth species including 8
new records for the valley. Included was a new species of Helastia (two
males and one female) known previously from Catlins and Kelceys bush in
South Canterbury. Also got a good series of Apoctena orthropis, Tortrix
molybditis, Pasiphila melochlora, P. fumipalpata and Chloroclystis
lichenodes (what does it feed on?). 40 geometrids came to light on this
warm, cloudy night, as did copious aquatic insect adults.
Onwards to Borland Valley and Lake Hauroko in eastern Fiordland, where we
met up with Eric Edwards and family from Invercargill. We got 80 and 65 moth
species at night repectively from these sites with the surprises for me
being several undescribed Olearia feeding species that I had previously only
found in Otago etc. Pasiphila and Declana nsp were there as was Graphania
tetrachroa in large numbers. My fault for pitching our tent in an Olearia
bullata shrubland! Other nice species from Borland Valley at 740m were
Harmologa pontifica, Pseudocoremia terrena, Aletia nobilia, Ichneutica dione
(male & female), Scoparia torodes, S. parmifera, S. trapezophora, and
Platyptilia heliastis.
Boulder and common coppers, and tiger beetles and a large black and white
syrphid fly were other good daytime catches, along with lots of Hebe
larvae..
On the way home I was rewarded with a female of the new Notoreas
(Larentiinae) from The Wilderness Reserve.
Let us know about your good catches! Summer is disappearing fast.

regards
Brian

December 2000
 Hi,
with the preparations for the Otago Museum opening of its redevelopmenton
9th December, I have had an inactive time moth-hunting till recently. The
opening went exceptionally well with over 20,000 visitors there on the day.
The result is startling; I feel like I have started a new job, as the
surroundings are so completely changed!
Two lepidopterists have visited recently at the museum:
Andrea Stephens, who is studying the ennomid genus Pseudocoremia
(Ennominae), visited just after the opening and set to work on
photographing, recording localities and examining the large collection at
the museum. Many new species in modica and colpogramma groups are exciting
for her as is another possible n.sp related to lactiflua. We discussed the
placement of P. cineracia which has several novel characters. Recently I
have observed the larvae stripping the tomentum from its host, Olearia
odorata, then feeding on the green leaves (the adult emerged recently too).
I have fascinating photographs of the larvae doing this. The adults fold
their wings at rest as crambids do, an unusual feature. Robin and Andrea
dissected many individuals and discussed the use of Chalastra species and
other NZ species as outgroups.

I took four days off on 13-17 December to explore parts of the Mackenzie
Country and Ahuriri Valley.
First night was at Shag Point with Hamish. After observing whales, seals and
yellow-eyed penguins at dusk,we set out our light trap. 85 moths were
recorded at the light in addition to lots of aquatic bugs, lacewings, kelp
flies and chafers. Among the moths were many new to the site including the
noctuid Ectopatria aspera, tortricid Harmologa n.sp. (M. alpinus), Graphania
lithias, Xanthorhoe occulta, Aletia cuneata, Delogenes limodoxa and Eutorna
inornata. A great catch from a superb place.
Next two days were spent returning to the Black Forest Road, this time doing
it from south to north.
First night we camped in a grove of Olearia odorata close to Lake Benmore at
365m and predictably trapped many exciting species that I have recently bred
from that shrub.
Light trapping was bedlam with 105 moth species recorded. So many flies and
caddis at times that I had to retreat many metres from the light.
Olearia specialists trapped were Declana n.sp (6 individuals); Pseudocoremia
cineracia (4); Meterana exquisita; Pasiphila n.sp (10); Stathmopoda
albimaculata; S. n.sp. and Pyrgotis n.sp. (4). Making it the most productive
night for me ever for O. odorata moths - quite ironic as my booklet on them
is close to publication with Dept. of Conservation! (Maoritenes n.sp.,
Stigmella ilsea and Thiotricha oleariae larvae were noted there too.)
Other moths of note were; Dichromodes n.sp. (with abundant D. sphaeriata)
among 28 geometrids, Orocrambus lectus and  six Kiwaia species including K.
lenis.
Daytime was spent examining the geology, fauna and flora with the larvae of
the scythrid Scythris epistrota found feeding on the flowers of the rare
liane Carmichaelia kirkii; the first record outside of Central Otago of the
newly described, diurnal noctuid, Austalothis volatilis found as two larvae
feeding on the flowers of the diminutive Vittadinia australis; and large
numbers of the giant dragonfly Uropetala chiltoni and clapping cicada
Amphipsalta strepitans. Marvellous landscape and fauna.
Next night over the pass at 700m in Black Forest Stream valley. Idyllic spot
and warm weather produced 56 moths at light before a sudden front came
through! Of the 11 additional moths found from the previous night only
Orocrambus haplotomus and Xanthorhoe orophylla were significant.

The next day saw us heading out accross the Mackenzie Country towards
Twizel. After fording the Tekapo, Pukaki and Ohau Rivers we rested on a nice
example of river terrace and collected boulder coppers over the sparse
vegetastion. To my surprise I observed what was to me a new species of
diurnal scythrid, over the hottest stones - running, sunbathing and flying
low! It is a uniformly blue-grey species without markings. I collected 8
adults and suspect that the larvae feed on Raoulia australis in such
situations. Do any of you know this species? Very distinctive and apparently
localised. I will check the description of Philpott's S. lacustris at work
to see if it matches.
We then drove as far as we could up the Ahuriri Valley and camped at Canyon
Creek beside mountain beech forest. On a windy but warm night 50 moths came
to light including Ichneutica nervosa, Aletia cuccullina, Helastia plumbea
and Asaphodes oraria. We awoke to the morning sun quickly heating up our
tent and abundant boulder coppers dancing over the valley floor.
An exhausting 4 days with 550 moths to pin and label on our return! That
keeps me quiet for a few nights.
We were thrilled to have the company of Professor Nobutoyo Koda of Nanzan
University (Ngagoya - Japan)  visiting from 21-26 December, and looking for
Tiger moths (genus Metacrias). He is going to revise the genus which
includes 3 Australian species. After examining the dry collection and
gifting him many examples, we headed for the Rock & Pillar Range to see if
they (M. huttoni) were flying. On a windy, hot day we found only one
recently emerged male pupa! Difficult to get moths on demand!
After Christmas dinner we tried again and went up Flagstaff Hill to try our
luck with M. strategica. Again no luck! Nobutoyo left me his butterfly net,
a telescopic, sturdy net, that is a good deal better than anything I've seen
before. Look out moths! He was great company and very knowledgeable on many
groups of moth and butterfly.
Other news;
Simon Morris visited the museum to get distribution data of grasshoppers. I
was most impressed with his laptop, and the software that he has designed.
He has the best base map I have seen and a very good program for plotting
data. He carries all NZ literature, records and keys to NZ grasshoppers on
his laptop at all times.
Robin Craw continues to strategically collect coppers from eastern Otago and
sort them out. He has sent an important paper entitled  "Area cladistics,
fossil records, geological evidence and molecular clocks in Southwest
Pacific biogeography: testing the late Cenozoic dispersal hypothesis"  to a
NZ journal recently.
Rearing of NZ moths has at last sorted out the host of that enigmatic
geometrid Asaphodes chlamydota. I have it thriving on Ranunculus leaves.
Ironically although its host is identical to most of Asaphodes the larva are
not Asaphodes, more like Horisme or "Hydriomena" clarkei.


 
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