Asaphodes aphelias

Asaphodes aphelias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae.[2] It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Fiordland. This species inhabits damp native scrub and has been observed in upland wetlands at altitudes of between 800 and 1100 m. Adults are on the wing in February but the female of this species is unusual as it has narrow fore and hind wings.

Asaphodes aphelias
Female
Male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Asaphodes
Species:
A. aphelias
Binomial name
Asaphodes aphelias
(Prout, 1939)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Xanthorhoe aphelias Prout, 1939
  • Xanthorhoe helias obscura Philpott, 1921

Taxonomy
A. aphelias male holotype

This species was first described by Philpott under the name Xanthorhoe helias obscura.[3] In 1939 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Xanthorhoe obscura.[4] In 1939 Louis Beethoven Prout provided a new name for this species, naming it Xanthorhoe aphelias.[5] Prout did so as the species originally named Scotocoremia obscura Butler, 1882 was at that point in time placed in the genus Xanthorhoe and Philpott had raised Xanthorhoe helias obscura to the rank of species.[6] In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Asaphodes.[7] In 1988 Dugdale affirmed this placement in his catalogue of New Zealand Lepidoptera.[6] The holotype specimen, a male collected from Hump Ridge in Fiordland by Alfred Philpott, is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[6]

Description
A. aphelias illustrated by George Hudson as Xanthorhoe obscura

Philpott first described this species, as a subspecies, as follows:

♂♀. 26–30 mm. Head and palpi ochreous, the latter usually darker. Antennae, shaft whitish-ochreous, pectinations darker. Thorax ochreous, tinged with reddish on shoulders. Abdomen ochreous mixed with fuscous, anal tuft bright ochreous. Legs whitish-ochreous, anterior pair suffused with fuscous. Forewings dull fuscous shading to ochreous along costa; first and second lines distinct, narrow, white; subterminal thin, whitish, sometimes partially obsolete: cilia pink. Hindwings ochreous, apical half fuscous; second line prominent, irregular, whitish, anteriorly fuscous-margined; one or two parallel ochreous lines sometimes follow second line, and there are indications occasionally of preceding lines also: cilia pink.[3]

The female of this species is unusual as it has narrow fore and hind wings.[4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It has been observed in Fiordland.[3]

Habitat

A. apelias inhabits damp native scrub and has been observed in upland wetlands at altitudes of between 800 and 1100 m.[4][8]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing in February.[4]

References
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Wikispecies has information related to Asaphodes aphelias.
  1. "Asaphodes aphelias (Prout, 1939)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  2. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 458. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  3. Alfred Philpott (1921). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 53: 338. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q59640501.
  4. George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington, p. 410, OCLC 9742724, Wikidata Q109420935{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. Prout, L. B. (1939). "Geometridae: Fauna Indo-Australica". The Macrolepidoptera of the World. 12: 248 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  6. John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 172. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
  7. 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.
  8. Brian Patrick (1 July 2014). "Ecology and conservation of the rare moth Asaphodes frivola Meyrick". The Wētā. 47: 17–38. ISSN 0111-7696. Wikidata Q105344866.
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