Tatosoma agrionata
Tatosoma agrionata, commonly known as the mistletoe carpet moth, is a small moth in the Geometridae family. It is endemic to New Zealand and is considered at risk and declining.
Taxonomy
- Described by Francis Walker in 1862.
- Initially named Cidaria agrionata; also described as Cidaria collectaria.
- Placed in the genus Tatosoma by Butler in 1874; later synonymised under Tatosoma.
- Lectotype held at the Natural History Museum, London.
Description
- Adults have distinctive forewing markings; the species is similar to Tatosoma tipulata but lacks certain lines and has a large pale patch near the tornus.
- A notable feature on the forewings is a black V-shaped mark near the base.
- Larvae hatch orange, then turn yellow-green and are slightly paler underneath.
- Mature larvae form cocoons on the soil surface beneath their host plants.
Distribution
- Endemic to New Zealand.
- Range: from Bay of Plenty to Wellington in the North Island, and from Nelson to Stewart Island in the South Island.
- In the year 2000, it was thought to possibly be extinct in the North Island, but it was observed again in 2022 (Coromandel Forest Park).
Life cycle and behavior
- Larvae are slow-moving.
- Adults emerge from July to May; two generations per year are suspected.
- Adults often rest on tree trunks.
Habitat and host plants
- Prefers forest habitats up to about 900 meters elevation.
- Larvae feed on native mistletoes in the Loranthaceae family, such as Alepis flavida, Ileostylus micranthus, Peraxilla tetrapetala, Peraxilla colenso, Trilepidea adamsii, and Tupeia antarctica.
Conservation status
- Classified as at risk, declining under the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS).
Notes
- The species was first described from specimens collected in Hawke’s Bay or Taupō, with the genus reassignment occurring in 1874.
- It is an important part of New Zealand’s native moth fauna and is of interest to conservationists monitoring endemic Lepidoptera.
This page was last edited on 28 January 2026, at 16:33 (CET).