Physetica temperata is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in the North Island and the top of the South Island in coastal areas. P. temperata is unlikely to be confused with other species in its range, even though it is not distinctively patterned. It is possible that males might be confused with males of P. homoscia but this latter species is much larger. P. temperata can be distinguished from P. caerulea as the former species has forewing veins that are marked black and a chequered forewing fringe. The adults of this species are on the wing from September to March. The life history of this species has not been well documented although it is thought that larval host species is Ozothamnus leptophyllus.
| Physetica temperata | |
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Physetica |
| Species: | P. temperata
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| Binomial name | |
| Physetica temperata (Walker, 1858)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Taxonomy
editThis species was first described by Francis Walker in 1858 and named Bryophila temperata.[2] In the same publication, Walker, thinking he was describing new species also named this species Xylina inceptura and Xylina deceptura.[2] In 1887 Edward Meyrick synonymised these two latter names and placed the species in the name in the Mamestra.[3] In 1898 George Hudson discussed this species under the name Leucania temperata.[4] In 1905, George Hampson also discussed this species and placed it within the genus Morrisonia.[5] In 1917 Alfred Philpott, thinking he was describing a new species, named it Aletia accurata.[6] In 1927 Meyrick thinking he was describing a new species, named this species Aletia eucrossa.[7] In 1928 Hudson again discussed this moth, but this time under the name Melanchra temperata.[8] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale synonymised the names Aletia accurata and Aletia eucrossa, and placed this species in the genus Aletia.[9] In 2017 Robert Hoare undertook a review of New Zealand Noctuinae and placed this species in the genus Physetica.[1] The female holotype specimen was collected by J. F. Churton, likely in Auckland, and is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[9]
Description
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Walker originally described this species as follows:
Male. Cinereous, somewhat paler beneath. Body stout. Third joint of the palpi porrect, linear, rounded at the tip, about half the length of the second. Wings shining, rather narrow. Fore wings slightly clouded, with darker cinereous in the disk, slightly marked with black along the cosla and on the veins ; orbicular and reniforra marks slightly bordered with black ; the former nearly elliptical; the latter oblong-subquadrate, hardly contracted in the middle; marginal points black; ciliae dark cinereous, with white streaks. Hind wings brownish cinereous, with white ciliae. Length of the body 5 lines ; of the wings 14 lines.[2]
The adult male of this species has a wingspan of between 30 and 32 mm whereas the female has a wingspan of between 32 and 35 mm. P. temperata is unlikely to be confused with other species in its range, even though it is not distinctively patterned.[1] It is possible that males might be confused with males of P. homoscia but this latter species is much larger.[1] P. temperata can be distinguished from P. caerulea as the former species has forewing veins that are marked black and a chequered forewing fringe.[1]
Distribution
editThis species is endemic to New Zealand.[10][11] This species can be found in the North Island and in the north parts of the South Island.[1]
Habitat
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This species lives in coastal habitats.[1]
Behaviour
editThe adults of this species are on the wing from September to March.[1]
Life history and host plants
editThe life history of this species has not been well documented although it is thought that larval host species is Ozothamnus leptophyllus.[1]
References
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- ^ a b c d e f g h i Robert Hoare (23 June 2017). "Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) part 1: Austramathes, Cosmodes, Proteuxoa, Physetica" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 73. Illustrator: Birgit E. Rhode. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research: 44–46. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.73. ISSN 0111-5383. OCLC 1002177011. Wikidata Q44893580.
- ^ a b c Francis Walker (1856), List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part XV. - Noctuidae, vol. 15, pp. 1648–1649, Wikidata Q108312272
- ^ Edward Meyrick (1887). "Monograph of New Zealand Noctuina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 19: 27–28. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q104048034.
- ^ George Vernon Hudson (1898), New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera), Illustrator: George Hudson, London, p. 9, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.7912, OCLC 980865393, Wikidata Q19073637
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ George Francis Hampson (1905), Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Volume V: Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum, vol. 5, pp. 1–634, Wikidata Q97092303
- ^ Alfred Philpott (1917). "Art. XIII. - Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 49: 239. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q108312592.
- ^ Edward Meyrick (15 November 1927). "Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 313. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q108312620.
- ^ George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 75, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286
- ^ a b John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 201. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ "Physetica temperata (Walker, 1858)". www.nzor.org.nz. 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ "Physetica temperata (Walker, 1858)". nztcs.org.nz. 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.