Orthoclydon praefectata

Orthoclydon praefectata
	Female specimen
	Male specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Genus:	Orthoclydon
Species:	O. praefectata
Binomial name
	Orthoclydon praefectata; (Walker, 1861)[1]
Synonyms
	Acidalia praefectata Walker, 1861 ; Acidalia praefactata (Walker, 1861) ; Xanthorhoe praefectata (Walker, 1861) ; Acidalia subtentaria Walker, 1863 ;

Orthoclydon praefectata, the flax looper moth or flax window maker, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Description

The wing span of this species is 38–45 mm. The male moth is a pale brown and the female a glossy white.[2]

Taxonomy

O. praefectata was first described by Francis Walker under the name Acidalia praefectata.[3][4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1898 under the name Xanthorhoe praefectata.[5]

Distribution and habitat

This moth is endemic to and is widely distributed throughout New Zealand.[6][2]

The habitat/food plant for this moth is the New Zealand native flax Phormium tenax.[2]

Life cycle

Eggs

Eggs are straw coloured and are laid on the underside of the flax leaf.[2]

Larva

The caterpillar is a brown/green colour . It has three dark red lines on its back and a yellow line on each flank. When fully grown it is approximately 2.5 cm long.[2]

Adult

Adult moths are seen in all the summer months.[2]

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References

"Orthoclydon praefectata (Walker, 1861)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
Gaskin, D E (1966). The Butterflies and Common Moths of New Zealand. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. p. 133.
Francis, Walker (1861). List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. 23. London: British Museum. p. 781. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.58221 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 185. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
Hudson, G. V (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies. London: West, Newman & Co. pp. 60–61. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 460. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.

External links

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[NZOR-1] "Orthoclydon praefectata (Walker, 1861)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 27 January 2017.

[Gaskin-2] Gaskin, D E (1966). The Butterflies and Common Moths of New Zealand. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. p. 133.

[3] Francis, Walker (1861). List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. 23. London: British Museum. p. 781. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.58221 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

[Dugdale1988-4] Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 185. Retrieved 15 May 2018.

[5] Hudson, G. V (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies. London: West, Newman & Co. pp. 60–61. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. Retrieved 14 May 2018.

[NZIB-6] Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 460. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.