New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Distribution and conservation requirements of Notoreas sp., an
unnamed Geometrid moth on the Taranaki coast, North Island, New Zealand
Lisa J. Sinclair
Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 10 420
Wellington, New Zealand
email: lsinclair@doc.govt.nz
Abstract Concern over a decline in habitat of an unnamed,
endemic species of Notoreas (Geometridae) moth from the Taranaki coast
stimulated this study on its distribution and conservation requirements.
The caterpillars mine leaves of Pimelea (cf.) urvilleana, a
prostrate shrub that can be found among other pioneer plants on coastal cliffs.
Forty-seven patches of habitat were located along 50 km of coastal cliffs
adjacent to farmland. Patches were clumped in distribution, and 3/4
of the patches were “small”, containing fewer than 15 host plants. Moths
were detected in half the patches. Occupied patches were usually large (>25
plants), or if small, were usually within 200 m of another occupied patch.
Recommendations for habitat management include weed control and reduction
in damage from humans and stock. Ongoing advocacy with land owners and the
community is important.
Keywords Lepidoptera; Geometridae; Notoreas;
Pimelea; host plant; distribution; conservation; conservation grazing; patch
occupation; coastal turfs
Z01039 Received 29 October 2001; accepted 26 April 2002; published 27
November 2002
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2002, Vol. 29: 311-322
0301-4223/02/2904-0311 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2002
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