Nyctemera annulata

Nyctemera annulata
Nyctemera annulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Arctiidae
Genus: Nyctemera
Species: N. annulata
Binomial name
Nyctemera annulata
Boisduval, 1832
Synonyms
  • Leptosoma annulatum Boisduval, 1832
  • Nyctemera annulatum (Boisduval, 1832)
  • Nyctemera doubledayi Walker, 1854
  • Nyctemera tripunctaria Swinhoe, 1916

Nyctemera annulata, commonly known as the Magpie Moth, is a moth of the Arctiidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The subspecies A. annulata antipodea is found on New Zealand's Antipodes Islands.

Its liking for the introduced ragwort causes its caterpillars to be sometimes mis-identified as those of the Cinnabar moth which was introduced as a biological control for ragwort. The magpie moth’s ‘woolly bear’ caterpillars are predominantly black with yellowish-orange stripes running along the length of their bodies and have long black bristles, whereas by contrast cinnabar caterpillars have smooth bodies and alternating yellow- and black-coloured rings around their bodies.[1]

Nyctemera annulata is closely related to Nyctemera amica, which also occurs in New Zealand. The two species are able to interbreed.

Mating
Eggs and early instar
Caterpillar
Cocoon

The wingspan is about 40 mm. It is a day-flying species.

The larvae feed on Ragwort, rangiora, cineraria, groundsel.

Caterpillar head
Caterpillar rear

Subspecies

  • Nyctemera annulata annulata (New Zealand)
  • Nyctemera annulata antipodea (Antipodes Islands)

References

  1. ^ [1]

External links

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