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Species Paralaea beggaria (Guenée, 1857)

Peppermint Looper

 

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Occurs from south-eastern Queensland to Tasmania. Although generally a lowland species in Tasmania, most mainland records are from moderate elevations in the eastern ranges.

Australian Endemic.


Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Caterpillar: herbivore (associated flora: Eucalyptus amygdalina Labill., 1806 [MYRTACEAE] Black Peppermint; Eucalyptus viminalis Labill. [MYRTACEAE] Manna Gum; Eucalyptus obliqua l'Hérit. [MYRTACEAE] mountain ash; Eucalyptus risdoni Hook f. [MYRTACEAE] risdon peppermint; Eucalyptus nitens Maiden [MYRTACEAE] shining gum; Eucalyptus tenuiramis Miq. [MYRTACEAE] silver peppermint; Eucalyptus ovata Labill. [MYRTACEAE] swamp gum).

Associated Flora References

Anonymous 1985. Peppermint Looper. Forest Pests and Diseases Leaflet 3: pp. 4 (Eucalyptus amygdalina)

Elliott, H.J., Bashford, R. & Palzer, C. 1980. Biology of Stathmorrhopa aphotista Turner (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), a defoliator of Eucalyptus spp. in southern Tasmania. Australian Forestry 43: 81-86 (Eucalyptus viminalis; Eucalyptus tenuiramis; Eucalyptus risdoni; Eucalyptus ovata; Eucalyptus obliqua; Eucalyptus nitens)

 

Diagnosis

The transverse dark markings on the forewing allow this species to be recognised from all species in the genus except P chionopasta McQuillan, Young & Richardson, which, in addition, has the forewings weakly irrorated with white scales. The small female corpus bursae is characteristic of Tasmanian and Victorian specimens, but is larger in individuals from New South Wales and Queensland. On this evidence we suspect the female holotype of beggaria originated in New South Wales.

 

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)
05-Jun-2024 GEOMETROIDEA 05-Jun-2024 MODIFIED Dr Cathy Byrne
21-Feb-2022 GEOMETROIDEA 24-Nov-2023 MODIFIED Dr Cathy Byrne (TMAG) Di Moyle (TMAG)
21-Feb-2022 GEOMETRIDAE 05-Jun-2024 MODIFIED Dr Federica Turco (QM)
21-Feb-2022 05-Jun-2024 MODIFIED
21-Feb-2022 05-Jun-2024 MODIFIED
26-May-2010 MODIFIED