Asaphodes obarata

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Asaphodes obarata
Asaphodes obarata male.jpg
Male
Asaphodes obarata female.jpg
Female
Status NZTCS NC.svg
Nationally Critical (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Genus:
Asaphodes
Species:
A. obarata
Binomial name
Asaphodes obarata
(Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875) [2]
Synonyms
  • Cidaria obarataFelder & Rogenhofer, 1875
  • Larentia obarata(Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875)
  • Xanthorhoe obarata(Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875)

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Cajetan Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875 as Cidaria obarata. [3] The holotype specimen was collected by Thomas R. Oxley in Nelson and is held at the Natural History Museum in London. [4] Edward Meyrick placed the species within the genus Larentia in 1884. [5] In 1898 George Vernon Hudson placed the species within the genus Xanthorhoe. [6] In 1971 John S. Dugdale assigned Xanthorhoe obarata to the genus Asaphodes. [7]

Description

Hudson described A. obarata as follows: [6]

The expansion of the wings is barely 1 inch. The fore-wings are pale greyish-ochreous ; there is an interrupted reddish-brown transverse band near the base ; two faint, interrupted shaded blackish hues, one at about one-third and the other at about two-thirds, enclosing between them a large central area, which contains a very distinct black dot above the middle, and several irregular shaded black marks; beyond this there is a wavy reddish-brown band; the apex of the wing is somewhat projecting, and the termen is considerably bowed. The hind-wings are pale grey, with a paler central band, and numerous faint, wavy, darker grey lines. The cilia of all the wings are white, banded with dark grey. [6]

Distribution

A. obarata is endemic to New Zealand. [2] [8] As well as Nelson, it has been collected in Wellington, Christchurch and at the foot of Mount Hutt. [6] It has also been collected at Waimarino and Ohakune in the North Island as well as Akaroa, Otira, Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill in the South Island. [9]

There has been a contraction of range in Dunedin and Southland and this species is now regarded as being locally extinct in both Dunedin and Invercargill. [10] [11]

Ecology and habitat

Hudson states that this species could be found on the margins of forests [9] and R. W. Fereday communicated that it was a plain-frequenting species that has an affinity for gorse hedges. [6] Hudson also stated that adult moths were on the wing in December and January. [9]

Host plants

The host plants of this species are unknown. [11]

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical. [1] It has been hypothesised that this species is under threat as a likely result of habitat loss. [12]

Related Research Articles

Rudolf Felder

Rudolf Felder was an Austrian jurist and entomologist. He was mainly interested in Lepidoptera, amassing, with his father, Cajetan Felder, a huge collection.

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Epiphryne verriculata, the cabbage tree moth, is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found only in New Zealand, and only feeds on the native cabbage tree ; its wings are patterned to camouflage it against dead cabbage tree leaves.

<i>Macarostola miniella</i> Species of moth

Macarostola miniella is a species of moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is only found in the North Island and the adult moths have two different colour variations.

<i>Glyphipterix tungella</i> Species of moth

Glyphipterix tungella is a species of sedge moth in the genus Glyphipterix. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Epiphryne undosata</i> Species of moth

Epiphryne undosata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Homodotis megaspilata</i> Species of moth

Homodotis megaspilata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Scoparia rotuella</i> Species of moth

Scoparia rotuella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875 under the name Crambus rotuellus. In 1913 Edward Meyrick revised the taxonomy of the species and placed it within the genus Scopaira. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Scoparia ustimacula</i> Species of insect

Scoparia ustimacula is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Orocrambus tuhualis</i> Species of moth

Orocrambus tuhualis is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it has been recorded in the South Island and Wellington in the North Island. This species prefers habitat that consists of swampy areas.

<i>Musotima aduncalis</i> Species of moth

Musotima aduncalis is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875. This species is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Eudonia pongalis</i> Species of moth

Eudonia pongalis is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Eudonia trivirgatus</i> Species of moth

Eudonia trivirgatus is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875 as Crambus trivirgatus. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Xanthorhoe bulbulata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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

<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 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>Gingidiobora subobscurata</i> Species of moth

Gingidiobora subobscurata is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as "At Risk, Declining" by the Department of Conservation.

<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. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict'" by the Department of Conservation.

<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>Nymphostola</i> Genus of moths

Nymphostola is a monotypic moth genus in the family Oecophoridae or the family Depressariidae. The genus was erected by Edward Meyrick in 1883. Its only species, Nymphostola galactina, the tarata flat moth, was described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875. It is endemic to New Zealand.

References

  1. 1 2 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. 5. ISBN   9781988514383.
  2. 1 2 "Asaphodes obarata (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Felder, Cajetan; Rogenhofer, Alois Friedrich (1864–1867). "Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara". Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. Von W. pt.9:Bd.2:Abt.2 (1864-1867) Atlas: cxxxiii fig 33 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. ↑ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 174. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Meyrick, Edward (1884). "A monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16: 49–113. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (macro-lepidoptera). London: Newman & Co. p. 66. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912.
  7. ↑ Dugdale, J. S. (10 November 1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other Islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-Crambine Pyralidae" (PDF). Pacific Insects Monograph. 27: 55–172 – via Bishop Museum.
  8. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. 2. p. 459. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  9. 1 2 3 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 121.
  10. ↑ Patrick, Brian H. (2017). "Ecology and conservation of the rare moth Asaphodes frivola Meyrick". The Weta. 47: 17–38. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  11. 1 2 Patrick, Brian; Dugdale, John S. (2000). Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 20. ISBN   0478218672.
  12. ↑ Brian, Patrick (2000). Conservation status of two rare New Zealand geometrid moths (PDF). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Conservation. ISBN   0478219466. OCLC   54078998.
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