Pasiphila charybdis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Geometridae |
Genus: | Pasiphila |
Species: | P. charybdis |
Binomial name | |
Pasiphila charybdis | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Pasiphila charybdis is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [3]
This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 and named Helastia charybdis using specimens collected by F. W. Hutton in Dunedin. [4] [2] In 1879, thinking he was describing a new species, Butler also named this species Helastia calida. [4] George Hudson, also thinking he was describing a new species, named it Chloroclystis antarctica in 1898. [5] In 1917 Meyrick placed this species within the genus Chloroclystis and synonymised Helastia calida with it. [6] Hudson discussed Chloroclystis charybdis in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand but said he was unacquainted with the species. [7] In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Pasiphila. [8] Dugdale confirmed this placement in 1988 and synonymised C. antarctica with P. charydbis. [2] The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2]
Hudson described the larvae of this species as follows:
The larva of this species, which feeds on the common Veronica in December, is, when full-grown, about 3⁄4 in. in length, rather attenuated anteriorly, almost uniform, dark reddish-brown, darker on the sides. The head is reddish, and there are traces of several longitudinal lines in younger larvae. Others are dull yellowish-brown, with the lines plainer and the prolegs pale-yellow; but as the larva is so extremely variable a detailed description hardly appears possible. [9]
Butler described the adults of this species as follows:
primaries above smoky-grey, crossed by about eight zigzag blackish lines in pairs, forming indications of four bands which are most strongly defined upon the costa; a whitish-edged black lunule between the last two bands; the last band partially filled in with sandy-whitish and brown; fringe whitish flesh-coloured intersected by a grey line and interrupted at the terminations of the veins by blackish spots; secondaries pale smoky-grey, the veins black spotted with whitish; extreme outer margin black; fringe as in the primaries; body brownish-grey, head yellowish; antennae smoky-grey, strongly pectinated; under surface sericeous grey; markings of upper surface ill-defined; discocellulars black; primaries with pale reddish cupreous costal area; secondaries with a series of short black dashes beyond the cell; fringe paler than the rest of the wings, spotted with dark grey. Expanse of wings 10+1⁄2 lines. [4]
When discussing this species Dugdale stated:
Gathered under this name are the intricately patterned brown and green "species" with one spine-like cornutus on the aedeagal vesica. [2]
The larval hosts of this species are plants in the genus Veronica . [9] Larvae have been successfully raised on Hebe
The pupa of this species can be found enfolded with silk between two leaves of its larval host. [9] The adults of this species are on the wing from December. [9]
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