Asaphodes cataphracta

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Asaphodes cataphracta
Asaphodes cataphracta female.jpg
Female
Asaphodes cataphracta male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Asaphodes
Species:
A. cataphracta
Binomial name
Asaphodes cataphracta
(Meyrick, 1883) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Larentia cataphracta Meyrick, 1883
  • Xanthorhoe cataphracta (Meyrick, 1883)

Asaphodes cataphracta is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South Island. This species prefers grassy or tussock covered mountain side slopes as habitat. The adults of this species are on the wing from December until March. The larvae of A. cataphracta is known to consume native mountain buttercups ( Ranunculaceae ).

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883 as Larentia cataphracta using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass at 3,000 feet, Lake Guyon, and Lake Wakatipu at 4,000 feet. [3] [4] Meyrick gave a fuller description of the species later in 1884. [4] George Hudson discussed the species in his 1898 volume New Zealand moths and butterflies and referred to it as Xanthorhoe cataphracta. [5] In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Asaphodes. [6] This placement was reaffirmed by Dugdale in 1988. [2] The female lectotype, collected at Arthur's Pass, is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]

Description

Illustration of female A. cataphracta by George Hudson. Fig 29 MA I437613 TePapa Plate-XIV-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration of female A. cataphracta by George Hudson.

Hudson described the species as follows:

The fore-wings are dull yellowish-brown, with numerous slightly waved oblique black and white transverse bands ; one very broad white band is situated near the middle, and another at about three-fourths ; there is a broad longitudinal reddish-brown line on the costal edge, in which the transverse lines almost disappear ; there is also a pale, somewhat triangular, area at the apex. The hind-wings are very pale greyish-ochreous. The cilia of all the wings are very pale ochreous. The female is duller and paler than the male. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Observation of live A. cataphracta. Asaphodes cataphracta 167368989.jpg
Observation of live A. cataphracta.

A. cataphracta is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the South Island. [1] [7] It prefers grassy mountain side slopes as habitat. [5] Specimens of this species have been collected in the North Canterbury (NC) and Westland (WD) specimen collection localities as described by Crosby et al. [2] The species was collected in February in the Mount Cook district by Alfred Philpott [8] as well as at Arthur's Pass to Lake Wakatipu up to 1200m by Meyrick. [3] Hudson stated the species occurred in abundance in the Humboldt mountains. [5] Specimens were also collected in tussock country near the Homer saddle by George Howes. [9]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing from December until March. [10]

Host species

The larvae of this species is known to consume native mountain buttercups (Ranunculaceae). [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Asaphodes</i> Genus of moths

Asaphodes is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae erected by Edward Meyrick in 1885. This genus is endemic to New Zealand and species within this genus are found throughout the North, South and Stewart / Rakiura Islands.

<i>Cephalissa</i> Genus of moths

Cephalissa is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Cephalissa siria, the orange triangle moth, is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as nationally vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Austrocidaria parora</i> Species of moth

Austrocidaria parora is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Asaphodes abrogata</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes abrogata is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found from the central North Island as well as the South Island. This species is inhabits open country at altitudes of between 2000 to 4000 ft. Larvae have been reared on Plantago species including Plantago coronopus. It has been recommended that Plantago raoulii be planted to attracted this species. Adults are on the wing in February and March.

<i>Asaphodes adonis</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes adonis is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It is found in native forest at altitudes of between 300 to 1200 metres. Larvae have been reared on species of Ranunculus. Adults are on the wing in January and February.

<i>Asaphodes albalineata</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Asaphodes albalineata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed on Stewart Island / Rakiura. This species is similar in appearance to Asaphodes oraria but can be distinguished as it has an unusual pattern on the underside of its hindwings. It inhabits open hill tops and adults are on the wing in December.

<i>Asaphodes beata</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes beata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is a relatively common species that can be found throughout the country in native forest or scrub habitat. It can be distinguished from it's close relative Asaphodes adonis by the colour of its hind wings. The larvae of this species feeds on watercress but tends to be inactive during the day. If threatened it will mimic a twig dropping to the ground. The adult moths are on the wing from October to March and are said to be attracted to white rātā. The white markings on the forewing of the adults are variable in appearance.

<i>Asaphodes camelias</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Asaphodes camelias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and inhabits native forest. The adults of this species are on the wing from February to May and July to September.

<i>Asaphodes chionogramma</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Asaphodes chionogramma is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits the lower slopes of mountains in valleys with native forest at altitudes of between 2000-3000 ft. The adults of this species are on the wing in December and January.

<i>Asaphodes chlamydota</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes chlamydota is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, in the lower part of the North Island and in the South Island. It can be found in forest and shrublands and feeds on native Clematis plants.

<i>Asaphodes frivola</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes frivola, also known as the remuremu looper moth or Foveaux looper moth, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae with flightless females. It is endemic to New Zealand, and critically endangered, occurring in a very narrow and specialised habitat at just two small coastal sites near Invercargill.

<i>Asaphodes imperfecta</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes imperfecta is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Asaphodes obarata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Asaphodes obarata is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Asaphodes stinaria</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Asaphodes stinaria is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Asaphodes dionysias</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes dionysias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. The female of the species has reduced wing size in comparison to the male. It is only known from mountainous areas in Central Otago.

<i>Asaphodes helias</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes helias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It has been found in Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

<i>Asaphodes limonodes</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes limonodes is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Tingena anaema</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena anaema is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at Lake Wakatipu, Invercargill and Stewart Island / Rakiura. The adults of the species are on the wing in December.

<i>Tingena chloritis</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena chloritis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the South Island. Larvae of this species feed on leaf litter. The adults of this species are light flyers and are attracted to light.

<i>Asaphodes nephelias</i> Species of moth

Asaphodes nephelias is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. The preferred habits of this species is alpine tussock grasslands above native forest and in wetlands. The adults of this species are on the wing from January to March and are day flying. The female has brachypterous wings.

References

  1. 1 2 "Asaphodes cataphracta (Meyrick, 1883)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 172. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 Meyrick, Edward (1883). "Monograph of New Zealand Geometrina". New Zealand Journal of Science. 1: 526–531 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. 1 2 Edward Meyrick (May 1884). "A Monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16: 78. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q109615359.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & co. p. 61. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912.
  6. ↑ J. S. Dugdale (10 November 1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae" (PDF). Pacific Insects Monographs . 27: 55–172. ISSN   0078-7515. Wikidata   Q64006453.
  7. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 459. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  8. ↑ Philpott, A. (1930). "The Lepidoptera of Mount Cook District, with descriptions of new species" (PDF). Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 61: 419–439 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  9. ↑ Howes, W. George. "Lepidoptera Collecting at the Homer. With Descriptions of Two New Species" (PDF). Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 73: 90–96 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  10. ↑ George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, p. 119, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286
  11. ↑ "Mt Aspiring Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review: Conservation Resources Report - Part 1". www.linz.govt.nz/. Land Information New Zealand. November 2005. p. 91. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
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