Asaphodes nephelias

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Asaphodes nephelias
Asaphodes nephelias male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Asaphodes
Species:
A. nephelias
Binomial name
Asaphodes nephelias
(Meyrick, 1883) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Larentia nepheliasMeyrick, 1883
  • Xanthorhoe nephelias(Meyrick, 1883)
  • Xanthorhoe subflavaHowes, 1917

Asaphodes nephelias is a moth in the family Geometridae. [2] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. The preferred habitat 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1883 by Edward Meyrick using specimens collected at Arthur's Pass at 4600 ft in January and named Larentia nephelias. [3] Meyrick gave a fuller description later in 1884. [4] George Hudson discussed the species in his 1898 volume New Zealand moths and butterflies and referred to it as Xanthorhoe nephelias. [5] Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [6] In the same publication Hudson synonymised Xanthorhoe subflava with this species. [6] In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Asaphodes. [7] In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement. [2] The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]

Description

Illustration of A. nephelias by George Hudson. Fig 45 MA I437613 TePapa Plate-XIV-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Illustration of A. nephelias by George Hudson.

Meyrick first described this species as follows:

Pale whitish-grey, slightly ochreous; a discal dot, sinuate line beyond middle, and two rows of cloudy spots before hind margin dark fuscous. [3]

Meyrick gave a fuller description in 1884 and stated:

Male, female. — 32-34 mm. Forewings moderate, in female narrower and more elongate, hindmargin rounded; pale whitish-grey, slightly ochreous-tinged; an indistinct suffusion of dark fuscous scales before middle; a small dark fuscous discal dot; a rather irregular cloudy dark fuscous line beyond middle, sinuate beneath costa, shortly angulated in middle; a very faint stria beyond this; a hindmarginal band composed of two rows of cloudy partially confluent dark fuscous spots, separating on costa : cilia pale whitish-grey. Hindwings moderate, in female narrower, hindmargin rounded; ground-colour as in forewings, with a few grey scales posteriorly. [4]

The female of this species is brachypterous. [7]

Distribution

Arthur's Pass, type locality of A. nephelias. ArthursPass.jpg
Arthur's Pass, type locality of A. nephelias.

This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in Arthur's Pass and Mount Arthur. [1] [5] This species has also been collected in Central Otago including on Ben Lomond, Nevis Valley as well as at Danseys Pass. [8] [9]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing from January to March and are day flying. [6] [9]

Habitat

This species is found in alpine tussock grasslands above native forest. [6] It has also been observed in wetlands in Otago at the Danseys Pass as well as the Nevis Red Tussock Fen. [8] [10]

Related Research Articles

<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. It has suffered a contraction of its range, no longer being seen in Dunedin or Invercargill. It is currently found in the Mt Watkin Scenic Reserve, in eastern Otago, in the Rongahere Gorge and in the Dansey Ecological District. C. siria is known to inhabit kahikatea forest amongst Carex species as well as short tussock grasslands and shrubland. The larval host plant is Fuchsia perscandens. Adult moths are on the wing in October and November.

<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, has been observed in both the North and South Islands 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 and 3000 ft. The adults of this species are on the wing in December and January.

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

Asaphodes chlamydota is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, and can be found in the lower part of the North Island and in the South Island. It inhabits native forest and shrublands. The larvae of this species feeds on native Clematis plants including Clematis afoliata. Adults are on the wing from November to April and are regarded as having intermedia flight powers.

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

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.

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

Asaphodes cosmodora is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. The adults of this species are on the wing in January and February.

<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 and is only known from mountainous areas in Central Otago. It lives in open grassy mountainous habitat at altitudes up to 1750 m. It is also known to live in wetland habitat. The larvae of this species feed on native herbs. The adults of this species are on the wing in January and February. The adult female of the species has reduced wing size in comparison to the male.

<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 the middle and southern parts of the South Island. This species frequents tussock and scrubby habitat. The host plants of the larvae of this species include Cardamine and Ranunculus species. They have also been witnessed feeding on exotic buttercup species in the genus Bellis. Adults are on the wing in January and February.

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

Asaphodes limonodes is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits damp native forest. Adults are on the wing from November until March.

<i>Notoreas paradelpha</i> Species of moth

Notoreas paradelpha is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Orthoclydon chlorias</i> Species of moth

Orthoclydon chlorias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

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

Asaphodes mnesichola is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. This species inhabits subalpine native scrub. Adults of this species are on the wing in January and February.

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

Asaphodes omichlias is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits rocky, open country in high mountains. Adults are on the wing in January and February. The appearance of the adult of this species is variable with some specimens having a paler and more grey appearance than the more usual brown appearance. Its colouration ensures it blends well with its preferred habitat rocky, open country in the high mountains.

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

Asaphodes periphaea is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has only been collected in the mountains near Lake Wakatipu in the South Island. The male is fuscous coloured sprinkled with whitish colouration. The female is brachypterous. The preferred habitat of this species are alpine bluffs as well as mountainous open country. This species is on the wing from January to March.

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

Asaphodes prasinias is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found on both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits native forest including beech forest and subalpine scrub. The range of this species has reduced as this species is regarded as being locally extinct in the previously inhabited open non-forest habitats around Invercargill. Adults are on the wing from November to January.

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

Asaphodes prymnaea is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on the Mount Arthur tableland. It is common in limestone valleys. The female of the species is paler and has less distinctive markings than the male. Adults are on the wing in January and February.

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

Asaphodes sericodes is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. This species inhabits open tussock grasslands in subalpine scrub or wetlands. The female of the species is likely semi-apterous and is flightless. The adult males are on the wing in January.

<i>Atomotricha chloronota</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Atomotricha chloronota is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1914. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the eastern side of the South Island and at the Antipodes Islands. It inhabits clearings with native tussocks and ferns. The larvae feed on leaf litter from silk tunnels in soil. The male adults of this species are on the wing from July to September and have been trapped via sugar traps and are attracted to light. The female of this species is brachypterous.

<i>Atomotricha ommatias</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Atomotricha ommatias is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. This species inhabits shrubland. The adults are out in the spring months of August and September and are attracted to sugar traps. The female of the species os brachypterous and is incapable of flight. Both the male and female of the species have been observed resting on fences during cold nights. The female, if touched, will hop two or three inches.

<i>Atomotricha sordida</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Atomotricha sordida is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island in the Canterbury and Otago regions. The adult female of the species is brachypterous.

References

  1. 1 2 "Asaphodes nephelias (Meyrick, 1883)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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: 173–174. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  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 George Vernon Hudson (1898), New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) , Illustrator: George Hudson, London, p. 61, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.7912, OCLC   980865393, Wikidata   Q19073637 {{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. 1 2 3 4 Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 121, LCCN   88133764, OCLC   25449322, Wikidata   Q58593286
  7. 1 2 Dugdale, J. S. (10 November 1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae". Pacific Insects Monographs . 27: 55–172. ISSN   0078-7515. Wikidata   Q64006453.
  8. 1 2 George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 410, OCLC   9742724, Wikidata   Q109420935
  9. 1 2 Brian H. Patrick (1991). "Insects of the Dansey Ecological District" (PDF). Science & Research Series. 32: 1–25. ISSN   0113-3713. OCLC   154612987. Wikidata   Q110318301. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "Nevis Red Tussock Fen". www.orc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
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