Asaphodes chlorocapna

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Asaphodes chlorocapna
Asaphodes chlorocapna male.jpg
Male
Status NZTCS REL.svg
Relict (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Asaphodes
Species:
A. chlorocapna
Binomial name
Asaphodes chlorocapna
(Meyrick, 1925) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Xanthorhoe chlorocapnaMeyrick, 1925

Asaphodes chlorocapna is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can only be found in the Chatham Islands. The larvae of this species consume the leaves of Muehlenbeckia plants. Adults are on the wing in January. This species is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1925 as Xanthorhoe chlorocapna using a specimen collected by Stewart Lindsay at Mangere Island, in the Chatham Islands. [2] [3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in 1928 using the name Xanthorhoe chlorocapna. [4] In 1987 R. C. Craw placed this species within the genus Asaphodes. [5] The holotype specimen is held at the Canterbury Museum. [2]

Description

Illustration of male A. chlorocapna by George Hudson. Fig 11 MA I437613 TePapa Plate-XIV-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration of male A. chlorocapna by George Hudson.

Meyrick described the species as follows:

♂︎ 24-26 mm. Head, palpi, thorax pale greyish-ochreous irrorated blackish. Antennal pectinations ten; forewings with termen slightly bowed, rather oblique; light smoky-grey suffusedly irrorated dark fuscous; costal area from base to 45 rather broadly suffused pale greyish-ochreous, with groups of two antemedian, and three postmedian dark fuscous shades crossing it, but becoming obsolete downwards; discal spot small, transverse, dark fuscous; cilia whitish, basal half dark grey. Hind wings dark grey; cilia whitish, basal third grey. [3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [6] It can only be found in the Chatham Islands where it can be found on Mangere Island, Pitt Island and Rangatira Island. [7]

Biology and life cycle

Adult moths are on the wing in January. [4]

Host plants and habitat

The larvae of this moth consume the fallen leaves of Muehlenbeckia species. [7]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Relict". [8]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Xanthorhoe lophogramma</i> Species of moth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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<i>Homodotis amblyterma</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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References

  1. 1 2 "Asaphodes chlorocapna (Meyrick, 1925)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 172. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  3. 1 2 Edward Meyrick (1925). "Lepidoptera of the Chatham Islands". Records of the Canterbury Museum. 2 (5): 269–275. ISSN   0370-3878. Wikidata   Q110706860.
  4. 1 2 Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 114, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286
  5. R. C. Craw (April 1987). "Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14 (2): 269–293. doi:10.1080/03014223.1987.10422997. ISSN   0301-4223. Wikidata   Q54670161.
  6. 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.
  7. 1 2 Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation, New Zealand. p. 19. ISBN   978-0478218671. OCLC   154670803.
  8. Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation. p. 7. ISBN   9781988514383.