[Entomology • 2019] Arctesthes avatar & A. titanica • Review of the endemic New Zealand Genus Arctesthes Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae), with Descriptions of Two New Range-restricted Species

12) Arctesthes avatar, male paratype upperside, Denniston Plateau NN; 13) A. avatar, female upperside, Denniston Plateau NN; 
14) A. catapyrrha, male underside, Yaldhurst MC; 15) A. siris, male underside, Zero Gully CO; 
16) A. titanica, male paratype underside, White Burn OL; 17) A. avatar, male underside, Denniston Plateau NN.

B. H. Patrick, H. J.H. Patrick & Hoare, 2019

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.3.33944 

Researchgate.net/publication/334624591

Scale bars: 10 mm.

Abstract

The genus Arctesthes Meyrick (Geometridae: Larentiinae: Xanthorhoini), endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, is revised. Four species are recognised, including two new species, as follows: Arctesthes catapyrrha (Butler, 1877), A. siris (Hudson, 1908), A. titanica sp. nov. and A. avatar sp. nov. All except A. catapyrrha are restricted to subalpine and alpine localities. Adults and genitalia are fully described and illustrated for all species; larvae of A. catapyrrha are also briefly described and illustrated. Only Arctesthes catapyrrha is widespread; A. siris is restricted to a few mountain ranges of Central Otago; A. titanica is only known from two wetland localities in the Von Valley of the Otago Lakes district, and A. avatar is only known from a few wetlands in a restricted area of north-west Nelson. The two new species are considered of very high priority for conservation.

Key Words: New Zealand, Southern Alps, Geometridae, Larentiinae, Xanthorhoini, new species, conservation

Arctesthes spp. 
12) A. avatar, male paratype upperside, Denniston Plateau NN; 13) A. avatar, female upperside, Denniston Plateau NN; 
14) A. catapyrrha, male underside, Yaldhurst MC; 15) A. siris, male underside, Zero Gully CO;
16) A. titanica, male paratype underside, White Burn OL; 17) A. avatar, male underside, Denniston Plateau NN. Scale bars: 10 mm.

Brian H. Patrick, Hamish J.H. Patrick and Robert J.B. Hoare. 2019. Review of the endemic New Zealand Genus Arctesthes Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae), with Descriptions of Two New Range-restricted Species. Alpine Entomology. 3: 121-136. DOI: 10.3897/alpento.3.33944 

Researchgate.net/publication/334624591_Review_of_the_endemic_New_Zealand_genus_Arctesthes