Asaphodes mnesichola

Asaphodes mnesichola is a species of moth in the family Geometridae.[1] 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.

Asaphodes mnesichola
female
male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Asaphodes
Species:
A. mnesichola
Binomial name
Asaphodes mnesichola
(Meyrick, 1888)[1]
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Larentia mnesichola Meyrick, 1888
  • Xanthorhoe mnesichola Meyrick, 1888

Taxonomy
Illustration of male A. mnesichola by George Hudson.
Illustration of female A. mnesichola by George Hudson.

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 as Larentia mnesichola using material collected by Meyrick at Mount Arthur.[2][3] Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1898 as Xanthorhoe mnesichola.[4] He also discussed and illustrated this moth under this same name in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[5] In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species within the genus Asaphodes.[6] This placement was confirmed by Dugdale in 1988.[2] The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

Description

Meyrick described this species as follows:

Male, female. — 28-30 mm. Head, palpi, antennae, and thorax very pale brownish-ochreous. Abdomen ochreous-grey-whitish. Legs whitish-ocbreous, anterior femora and tibiae dark fuscous above. Forewings with costa gently arched, posteriorly more strongly, hindmargin slightly bowed, rather oblique ; very pale glossy brownish-ochreous ; four series of minute black dots on veins ; first near base ; second at 1⁄3, curved ; third from 3⁄4 of costa to 2⁄3 of inner margin, rather prominent in middle, preceded by a cloudy fascia slightly darker than ground-colour ; fourth subterminal ; a minute black discal dot ; hindmarginal space sometimes slightly darker : cilia whitish-ochreous, tips paler. Hindwings ochreous-grey-whitish ; a cloudy indistinct pale fuscous hindmarginal fascia, containing a dentate subterminal line of ground-colour ; cilia pale whitish-ochreous.[3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island.[4]

Habitat

This species inhabits subalpine scrub.[5]

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing in January and February.[5]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asaphodes mnesichola.
  1. "Asaphodes mnesichola (Meyrick, 1888)". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  2. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 173. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  3. Meyrick, Edward (1888). "Notes on New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 20: 47–62 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London. p. 60. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. OCLC 727236768. Retrieved 4 December 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 116. OCLC 25449322.
  6. Dugdale, J. S. (1971). "Entomology of the Aucklands and other islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-crambine Pyralidae". Pacific Insects Monograph. 27: 55–172.
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