Species Paralaea porphyrinaria (Guenée, 1857)
- Chlenias porphyrinaria Guenée, A. 1857. Uranides et Phalénites II. In, Boisduval, J.-A. & Guenée, A. (eds). Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species général des Lépidoptères. Paris : Librarie Encyclopédique de Roret Vol. 10 584 pp., 24 pls. [237].
Type data:
Lectotype MNHP ♂, Tasmania. - Palleopa rufivena Walker, F. 1866. Supplement 5. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum 35: 1534-2040 [incl. Summary and Index to parts 31-35] [1956].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH ♂, Tasmania.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Common, I.F.B. 1990. Moths of Australia. Carlton : Melbourne University Press vi+535 pp., 32 pls. [365] (Paralaea porphyrinaria (Guenée))
- McQuillan, P.B. & Edwards, E.D. 1996. Geometridae. pp. 200-228 in Nielsen, E.S., Edwards, E.D. & Rangsi, T.V. (eds). Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Vol. 4 xiv 529 pp. & CD-ROM. [204] (Palleopa rufivena Walker)
Distribution
States
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria
Extra Distribution Information
This species occupies tall eucalypt forest in the south-eastern part of Australia, where annual rainfall exceeds 900 mm. In South Australia it occurs in remnant E. obliqua-E. baxteri forest in the wettest pockets (1000-1100 mm annual rainfall) of the Mount Lofty Ranges whereas the adjacent drier E. odorata forest supports P. ochrosoma. In Tasmania, P. porphyrinaria is particularly associated with tall forests dominated by any of E. globulus, E. regnans, E. obliqua or E. bicostata (Flinders Island).
Australian Endemic.
Distribution References
Ecological Descriptors
Caterpillar: herbivore (associated flora: Eucalyptus l'Hérit. [MYRTACEAE] Gum trees).
Diagnosis
The large size, purplish colouring and almost uniformly dark hindwings help differentiate this species from other members of the genus. The lateral processes of the male juxta are small for the genus, the uncus is relatively short and apically broad and the straight spines on the vesica are relatively small. The female antenna has noticeable rami, the sclerotised part of the ductus is relatively short while its upper membranous section is only weakly asymmetrical. There is apparently clinal variation in size and colour intensity with Tasmanian and Victorian specimens being larger and darker than those from New South Wales and southern Queensland.
Diagnosis References
McQuillan, P.B., Young, C.J. & Richardson, A.M.M. 2001. A revision of the Australian moth genus Paralaea Guest (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 277–317
History of changes
| 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 |