Arctesthes siris

This species was first described by George Vernon Hudson in 1908 under the name Lythria siris. He based his description on specimens discovered by J. H. Lewis at approximately 1200 metres in altitude in the Old Man Range of Central Otago.{{Cite journal|last=Hudson|first=George Vernon|year=1908|title=Recent observations of New Zealand Macro-lepidoptera, including descriptions of new species.|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3302398#page/128/mode/1up|journal=Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute|language=en|volume=40|pages=104–107|via=Biodiversity Heritage Library}}{{PD-notice}} In 1928 Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.{{Cite Q|Q58593286|pages=131}} In 1939 Louis Beethoven Prout placed this species in the genus Arctesthes.{{Cite journal |last=Prout |first=L. B. |date=1939 |title=Geometridae: Fauna Indo-Australica. |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/56108707 |journal=The Macrolepidoptera of the World (Stuttgart) |volume=12 |pages=237–292 |via=Biodiversity Heritage Library}} In 1986 R. C. Craw agreed with this reinstatement the genus and the placement of this species within it. This placement was accepted by John S. Dugdale in 1988. The species was redescribed in 2019.{{Cite journal |last=Patrick |first=Brian H. |last2=Patrick |first2=Hamish J.H. |last3=Hoare |first3=Robert J.B. |date=2019-05-29 |title=Review of the endemic New Zealand genus Arctesthes Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae), with descriptions of two new range-restricted species |url=https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/33944/ |journal=Alpine Entomology |volume=3 |pages=121–136 |doi=10.3897/alpento.3.33944 |issn=2535-0889 |via=Pensoft |doi-access=free}} The lectotype specimen is held at Te Papa.

File:Arctesthes siris lectotype.jpg

Hudson described this species as follows:

{{Blockquote|The expansion of the wings is a little over {{frac|5|8}} in. The forewings are slaty-grey, with light reddish-brown, black, and pale-yellowish markings; there is a very small grey area at the base, followed by a wavy transverse reddish-brown band; next two yellowish-white bands enclosing a very narrow yellowish-brown area; then a strongly waved whitish line, followed by a narrow black line and a broad reddish-brown line; the central area is broad, slaty - grey, with a reddish-brown discal dot; this is followed by an extremely sharply angulated series of lines, consisting of a narrow reddish-brown line, a narrow black line, a narrow yellowish-white line, and a shaded orange-brown line; the termen is shaded with dark-brown with a very fine, wavy, whitish line and a series of small reddish-brown spots. The hindwings are golden-yellow, the basal and terminal portions broadly clouded with black, and a very wavy central black line. The cilia of all the wings are brownish-grey. The female is paler, and much less distinctly marked than the male.}}A. siris is smaller than its sister species A. catapyrrha and can be distinguished as A. siris has a noticeable concave curve in the proximal line of its forewing.

File:Arctesthes_siris_260098315.jpg

A. siris is endemic to New Zealand.{{Cite journal|last=Craw|first=R. C.|date=1986-01-01|title=Review of the genus Notoreas (sensu auctorum) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)|journal=New Zealand Journal of Zoology|volume=13|issue=1|pages=131–140|doi=10.1080/03014223.1986.10422654|issn=0301-4223|doi-access=free}} This species is only found in alpine areas of Otago where it prefers wetland areas and snow banks.{{cite journal|last1=Dickinson|first1=K. J. M.|last2=Mark|first2=A. F.|last3=Barratt|first3=B. I. P.|last4=Patrick|first4=B. H.|title=Rapid ecological survey, inventory and implementation: A case study from Waikaia Ecological Region, New Zealand|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand|date=March 1998|volume=28|issue=1|pages=83–156|doi=10.1080/03014223.1998.9517556|doi-access=free}} It has been observed at altitudes of 1300 – 1500 metres. The species has been recorded in the Lammermoor Range,{{Cite Q|Q126685320}} on the Garvie Mountains, the Old Man and Old Woman ranges and the Rock and Pillar ranges.{{Cite journal|last=Patrick, B.H. 1984|first=B. H.|year=1984|title=Lammermoor-Lammerlaw a tussockland National reserve in Eastern Otago?|url=http://www.bugz.org.nz/WebForms/ResultDetails.aspx?CurrentDoc=F00BB2C3-5693-4FAB-85B9-B069616A53A7&back=true&NewDoc=true&searchType=4&SearchString=Lythria+siris|journal=Forest and Bird|volume=15|issue=4|pages=7}}

A. siris is a day flying moth and are low flying.{{Cite journal |last=Patrick |first=Brian H. |last2=Lyford |first2=Brian M. |last3=Ward |first3=John B. |last4=Barratt |first4=Barbara I. P. |author-link4=Barbara Barratt |date=1992-12-01 |title=Lepidoptera and other insects of the Rastus Burn Basin, The Remarkables, Otago |journal=Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=265–278 |doi=10.1080/03036758.1992.10420820 |issn=0303-6758 |doi-access=}} Adults have been observed on the wing from early December until mid April. As at 2019 the larvae of this species has not been described.

File:Plantago lanigera 64267214.jpeg

The host species for A. siris include mat-forming Coprosma species as well as low growing species in the genus Plantago.

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Category:Moths of New Zealand

Category:Larentiinae

Category:Moths described in 1908

Category:Taxa named by George Hudson

Category:Endemic moths of New Zealand