Asaphodes beata

Observation of A. beata.

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 as Cidaria beata using a specimen from the collection of J. D. Enys.[4] In 1884 Edward Meyrick placed this species in the genus Larentia.[5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species both in his 1898 book under the name Xanthorhoe beata and again in his 1928 publication under the name Xanthorhoe benedicata.[6][7] In 1927 Louis Beethoven Prout synonymised Xanthorhoe benedicta with Xanthorhoe beata.[8] In 1939 Prout placed this species back in the genus Larentia.[9] However this placement was not accepted by New Zealand taxonomists.[10] In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Asaphodes.[11] This placement was affirmed by Dugdale in 1988.[12] The male holotype specimen, likely collected at Castle Hill in mid Canterbury, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[12]

Observation of A. beata.

Hudson described the egg of this moth as being:

about one fiftieth of an inch in length, oval, considerably flattened, with a distinct concavity on each side. It is green, highly polished, with numerous very shallow hexagonal depressions. Its colour changes to greyish-green about two days prior to hatching.[7]

He described the larvae as:

orange-brown, becoming greenish-brown soon after emergence. The full-grown larva is dark brown above and pale brown beneath, the two colours being sharply separated on the sides by a broken white line. A series of V-shaped markings is situated on the back, each mark enclosing a paler area. Several fine black wavy lines traverse the darker portions of the larva, and a dark mark, edged with black beneath, is situated on each segment just above the ventral surface.[6]

The larva forms a frail cocoon on the ground in which it pupates.[6]

Butler originally described the adults of this species as follows:

Above very similar in pattern to the preceding species, but much smaller, and the primaries with all the markings olive-green instead of bronzy brown ; the secondaries white instead of yellow, with a pale pinky brown outer border ; thorax olive-green ; abdomen testaceous : primaries below with the basal area, to the extremity of the dentated central band of the upper surface, madder-brown ; costa testaceous, tinted with olivaceous, and crossed by ferruginous bars ; disk whity-brown ; apex and outer border shining testaceous, almost golden ; a submarginal series of white dots ; fringe silvery white, black-spotted ; secondaries pale testaceous, increasing in intensity to the outer border, which is golden, crossed by parallel crenate olivaceous lines, three of which form a central band, relieved externally by white lunules ; disk crossed by paler olivaceous lines, followed by a submarginal series of white lunules ; body below testaceous. Expanse of wings 1 inch.[4]

This species can be distinguished from its close relative A. adonis by the colour of its hind wings.[13] Hudson states that the white markings on the forewings of this moth are variable.[6] This species is very similar in appearance to A. philpotti, to the point where A. philpotti was previously encapsulated within the concept of this species.[14]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] This relatively common species can be found in forest throughout the country.[2]

The larvae of this species is inactive during the day and when threatened mimics a twig dropping to the ground.[7] Adult moths are on the wing from October until March.[7]

This species inhabits native forest and scrub.[7]

Nasturtium officinale, introduced host species

Hudson stated that the larvae of this species feed on watercress.[6] Larvae have also been found on native herb plants in the genera Epilobium, Cardamine, and Stellaria.[15] Adults are said to be attracted to the flowers of the white rātā.[6]

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• Specimens held at the Auckland Museum.