''Xanthorhoe semifissata'', commonly known as the ''Barred Pink Looper,'' is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of ...

of the family

Geometridae The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''metr ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

and is found throughout the country although it is much less common in the mountains in the south and west of the South Island. The larvae host plants include ''

Nasturtium officinale Watercress or yellowcress (''Nasturtium officinale'') is a species of aquatic flowering plant in the cabbage family Brassicaceae. Watercress is a rapidly growing perennial plant native to Europe and Asia. It is one of the oldest known leaf ve ...

'' as well as species in the ''

Cardamine ''Cardamine'' is a large genus of flowering plants in the mustard family, Brassicaceae, known as bittercresses and toothworts. It contains more than 200 species of annuals and perennials. Species in this genus can be found worldwide, except the ...

'' genus. Adult moths inhabit shrubs at the edge of native forest.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1862 using specimens collected in

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

by T. R. Oxley and named ''Cohemia semifissata''. In 1939

Louis Beethoven Prout Louis Beethoven Prout (1864–1943) was an English entomologist and musicologist. Prout specialised in the insect order of Lepidoptera, especially the Geometridae, or geometer moths, on which he was a foremost authority. His notebooks and publi ...

placed this species in the genus ''Larentia''. In 1971

J. S. Dugdale ''J. The Jewish News of Northern California'', formerly known as ''Jweekly'', is a weekly print newspaper in Northern California, with its online edition updated daily. It is owned and operated by San Francisco Jewish Community Publications In ...

placed this species in the genus ''Helastia''. The genus ''Helastia'' was restricted by Craw in 1987 placing this species into the genus ''Xanthorhoe''. This placement was accepted in 1988 by Dugdale. The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

George Hudson described this species in 1898 as follows:

Distribution and habitat

This species is found in the North and South Islands of New Zealand as well as on Stewart Island. However this species is not common in the south and west mountains of the South Island. ''X. semifissata'' has been collected in

Riccarton Bush Riccarton is a suburb of Christchurch. It is due west of the city centre, separated from it by Hagley Park. Upper Riccarton is to the west of Riccarton. History On 12 April 1840, the ship ''Sarah and Elizabeth'' landed Herriot, McGillivray, ...

, Christchurch. The preferred habitat of this species is edge of forests. The hosts for the larvae of this moth are herbaceous plants. Gaskin noted eggs are laid on watercress (''Nasturtium officinale''). White listed ''

'' and stream '' Nasturtium'' as known larval foods.

Life cycle

Eggs

Eggs are pale green and hemispherical in shape.

Larva

The caterpillar is dark brown on its upper side and light brown below, When fully grown it is approximately 2.5 cm long.

Pupa

This species pupates in the leaf litter under the host plant.

Adult

Gaskin hypothesised that this species has two broods, the first in spring and early summer and the second in late summer. It is possible that the second may overwinter. The adults have been collected in March, May, August and October in Riccarton Bush, Christchurch. In the montane grasslands at

Arthur's Pass Arthur's Pass, previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, and for some time officially Arthurs Pass, is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for explorin ...

, this moth was seen from November through to April.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q8043091 semifissata Moths of New Zealand Moths described in 1862 Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist) Endemic moths of New Zealand