Scopula rubraria
| Scopula rubraria | |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Scopula |
| Species: | S. rubraria
|
| Binomial name | |
| Scopula rubraria | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Scopula rubraria, also called a plantain moth, is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It is native to Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1843 and originally named Ptychopoda rubraria.[1][2]
Description
It has straw coloured wings with zigzag markings. The wingspan is about 20 millimetres (0.79 in).[3]
Distribution
It is found throughout New Zealand and Australia (especially the more coastal regions of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania),[4] in the Kermadec Islands, Norfolk Island and New Caledonia.[3]
Host species
The caterpillars feed on Plantago lanceolata[5] (narrow-leaved plantain), and have also been raised on Medicago sativa (lucerne) and the New Zealand endemic plantain Plantago spathulata.[6] With the increased planting of narrow-leaved plantain as a forage plant in New Zealand, it has become a nuisance for farmers, along with Epyaxa rosearia, another New Zealand geometrid moth whose caterpillars feed on plantain.[7]
References
- ^ a b c Pasi Sihvonen (April 2005). "Phylogeny and classification of the Scopulini moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Sterrhinae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 143 (4): 473–530. doi:10.1111/J.1096-3642.2005.00153.X. ISSN 1096-3642. Wikidata Q54576267.
- ^ Dieffenbach, Ernst. Travels in New Zealand with contributions to the geography, geology, botany, and natural history of that country. Vol. 2. London: J. Murray. pp. 286–287.
- ^ a b "Phil Bendle Collection: Scopula rubraria (Plantain moth)". CitSciHub. Main Trust. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Philippa J. Gerard; Bruce A. Philip; Colin M. Ferguson; Tina M. Eden (12 December 2017). "Oviposition and development of two plantain pests, Scopula rubraria and Epyaxa rosearia (Lepidoptera: geometridae)". New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. 61 (4): 414–424. doi:10.1080/00288233.2017.1400445. ISSN 0028-8233. Wikidata Q113263052.
- ^ Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley (9 July 2006). "Scopula rubraria". uts.edu.au. Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
- ^ "Scopula rubraria (Doubleday, 1843)". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Oviposition and development of two plantain pests, Scopula rubraria and Epyaxa rosearia (Lepidoptera: geometridae)". New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. 61 (4): 414–424. 2018. doi:10.1080/00288233.2017.1400445. Retrieved 1 May 2025.