Notoreas hexaleuca
Notoreas hexaleuca is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. Taxonomy. This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1914 using material collected at Ben Lomond in November by Alfred Philpott. As Meyrick only had a female specimen to work with, he provisionally placed the species in the genus "Dasyuris" and named it "Dasyuris hexaleuca". After the discovery of a male of the species, Philpott placed the species within the genus "Notoreas". George Hudson discussed "N. hexaleuca" in his book "The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand". Hudson went on  to illustrate the species and discuss it further in his supplement to that work published in 1939. The genus "Notoreas" was reviewed in 1986 by R. C. Craw and the placement of this species within it was confirmed. However species within the genus "Notoreas" are currently regarded as being in need of revision. The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. Description. Meyrick described the species as follows: "N. hexaleuca" is similar in appearance to "N. isoleuca" and "N. mechanitis". It can be distinguished from "N. isoleuca" as it has a less hairy thorax. "N. hexaleuca" also  has visually different curved or straight lines on its forewings giving it a lighter appearance than "N. isoleuca". "N. hexaleuca" can be distinguished from "N. mechanitis" as it is smaller in size and has longer pectinations on its antennae. Distribution. This species is endemic to New Zealand. Other than the type locality of Ben Lomond, "N. hexaleuca" has also been found at Flagstaff hill in Dunedin, at Mount Cook, at Skelmorlie Peak near Lake Te Anau, at Cluden Station near Tarras, in the Kakanui Mountains and at Mount Herbert. Biology and behaviour. This species is on the wing from November  to March. Habitat and host species. This species prefers open hillside habitat and can be found at elevations of between 300 and 1000 metres. It has also been found in alpine wetland habitat at elevations of between 950 and 1500 metres. Larvae of this species have been found to feed on "Kelleria" species and in particular "Kelleria paludosa".