A taxonomic revision of the New Zealand species of the genus Persectania (Noctuidae: Hadeninae) (sensu Hudson, 1928) : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in the University of Canterbury [Lincoln College]

Abstract

The aims of this study have been to investigate the New Zealand species of the genus Persectania Hampson (sensu Hudson, 1928) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), to establish how many of the eight included species are congeneric with the Australian P. ewingii the type of the genus, and to establish the generic identity of the remaining species.

Egg, larval and adult material has been examined with a heavy reliance on adult generic identity of the remaining species.

Egg, larval and adult material has been examined with a heavy reliance on adult genitalic characters.

P. aversa is shown to be the only New Zealand species belonging to Persectania , joining the Australian species P. dyscrita and P. ewingii.

Of the remaining species, two distinct generic groups have become obvious on the basis of male genitalic characters. The groupings are arotis and disjungens which have been placed into the genus Graphania Hampson, type disjungens, and atristriga, propria, similis and steropastis which have been placed into the genus Tmetolophota Hampson, type propria.

The diagnostic characters distinguishing these two genera are the form of both the male valve and the cornutal band on the vesica. The differences have been explained in full in the text and are illustrated in figures.

During the course of the second part of this study, a number of other related nominal genera in the same subfamily were examined and precluded from the final analysis on the basis of external and genitalic characters. The generic names considered were Dipaustica, type epiastra; Erana, type graminosa; Ichneutica, type ceraunius; Physetica, type caerulea and Maoria, Plena.

The last mentioned genus is a special case. It was found to be fairly closely related to both Graphania and Tmetolophota, although the specific nature of this relationship has not been resolved in this text.