Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Genus Archephanes Turner, 1926

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Genus Archephanes Turner, 1926

 

Introduction

Moths of the genus Archephanes are medium-sized, structurally generalized geometrids. The pale green and black colouration of the adults allows camouflage against lichen in the wet forests that the species inhabits. The moths are active during early spring and autumn in the moist forests and sub-alpine areas of south-eastern Australia where the larvae feed during late spring and autumn. The nomenclature of this genus was clarified by McQuillan & Edwards (1996).

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania, Victoria


Extra Distribution Information

Archephanes is restricted to areas where its food plant Tasmannia lanceolata (Poiret) A. C. Smith 1969 occurs. The adult moth has been collected in moist forest and sub-alpine areas in south eastern Australia south of latitude 36°S. This is broadly the south eastern part of the extensive Bassian biogeographical zone which spans southern Australia. The moth is common and widely distributed in Tasmania.

Australian Endemic.


Distribution References

Diagnosis

Adults are medium-sized (wing expanse 30-40 mm), slender-bodied, nocturnal moths. The colour of the forewings is pale green with strongly contrasting black markings.

Archephanes adults are unlikely to be confused with other related Australian species by virtue of the distinctive green and black colouration of their forewings. This strongly contrasting colouring and maculation, typical of lichen mimics, is also seen in the Chilean rainforest ennomine genus Bryoptera Guenée 1857 and the New Zealand ennomine Declana atronivea Walker 1865 (Hudson 1928).

The morphological anatomy of the adults is typical of the southern Australian Nacophorini s. l. and the genitalic stucture is characteristically simple. In the male genitalia the lateral processes of the anellus are absent and the juxta is divided. Lateral processes of the anellus are also absent in Ciampa arietaria Guenée 1857, Dolabrossa McQuillan 1996 (McQuillan 1996), Gastrina Guenée 1857, Palleopa Walker 1866 (Young & McQuillan 2001), Rhynchopsota delogramma Lower 1903 and Stibaroma melanotoxa Guest 1887. Division of the juxta also occurs in Cycloprorodes Turner 1939, Mnesampela Guest 1887 (McQuillan 1985), Paralaea Guest 1887 (McQuillan et al. 2001), Plesanemma McQuillan 1984 (McQuillan 1984), Smyriodes aplectaria Guenée 1857 and Stibaroma melanotoxa. The tegumen is relatively long, a feature shared with Dolabrossa and Palleopa.

Whereas most southern Australian nacophorines have bipectinate male antennae, those of the male Archephanes are dentate. Dentate antennae also occur in the more robust-bodied genera Capusa cuculloides R. Felder 1874 and Melanodes Guenée 1857. A small rounded projection is present dorsad to each antennal socket in Archephanes. Similar structures are also present in Authaemon Turner 1919, Cassythaphaga McQuillan 1996, Dolabrossa amblopa Guest 1887, Gastrina, Melanodes, Neoteristis Meyrick 1892 and Palleopa (Young & McQuillan 2001). In Cycloprorodes, Fisera perplexata Walker 1860, Mnesampela privata Guenée 1857 and Paralaea porphyrinaria Guenée 1857 (McQuillan et al. 2001) the protuberance is a well-developed horn-like structure.

Archephanes also has diagnostic features in the immature stages. The number four stemma is at a distance less than its diameter from the antennal pit in the mature larva. This feature is also shared with Amelora sparsularia Guenée 1857 , A. acromegala McQuillan 1996, Cycloprorodes and Dolabrossa amblopa. There are only three lateral or external setae on the A6 proleg of Archephanes; most Australian nacophorines have at least four external setae. However this setal configuration is also present in the Australian geometrines Chlorocoma Turner 1910 and Euloxia fugitivaria Guenée 1857.

Some morphological features of the pupa are also distinctive. Punctation on the abdominal segments is relatively very deep and large and sparsely distributed. Archephanes also has only two pairs of cremastral setae whereas most Australian nacopohorines have at least three pairs. Based on the distribution of the following characters: division of the juxta; absence of the furcae; relatively long tegumen; the presence of a protuberance behind the antennal socket; and the shortened distance of stemma four from the antennal pit, it is possible that Archephanes may be related closely to Dolabrossa.

The eggs of Archephanes and Dolabrossa amblopa also share common features. Both genera have moderately broad to broad, bluntly ovoid to oblong eggs. The surface is marked all over by flat hexagonal cells and the cell walls on the anterior pole overlain by a narrow, shallow reticulation. The aeropyles are elevated, slightly domed and are absent from the top surface of the egg. The chorion is rough and ridged.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
21-Feb-2022 GEOMETROIDEA 04-Dec-2021 MODIFIED Dr Cathy Byrne (TMAG) Di Moyle (TMAG)
21-Feb-2022 23-Oct-2012 MODIFIED
21-Feb-2022 28-Jun-2012 MODIFIED
26-May-2010 MODIFIED