Asterivora combinatana

A. combinatana by George Hudson

This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1863 and named Simaethis combinatana.[3] In 1883 Edward Meyrick synonymised Simaethis abstitella with Simaethis combinatana.[4][2] In 1927 Alfred Philpott studied the male genitalia of this species.[5] In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Simaethis combinatana.[6] In that publication Hudson synonymised S. zomeuta with S. combinatana.[6] In 1979 J. S. Dugdale placed S. combinatana within the genus Asterivora.[7] In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement.[2] In the 1979 publication Dugdale treated S. zomeuta as a separate species and placed it within the genus Asterivora.[7] However, in his 1988 publication Dugdale synonymised A. zomeuta with A. combinatana.[2] The female lectotype specimen of A. combinatana, collected in Auckland, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

Larva of A. combinatana by George Hudson.

Walker described this species as follows:

Cupreous-ferruginous. Body cinereous beneath. Palpi porrect, squamous, a little longer than the breadth of the head ; third joint almost linear, nearly half the length of the second. Antennae with white rings. Fore wings with four whitish transverse diffuse irregular undulating lines ; two of these are near the base, and two near the exterior border, and each pair is accompanied by numerous minute whitish speckles ; fringe with two whitish streaks. Length of the body lines ; of the wings 7 lines.[3]

This species is extremely variable both in colouration and in size.[6] The female tends to be larger and paler than the male of the species.[6] It is very similar in appearance to its sister species Asterivora colpota and is easily confused with the same.[8] Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:

It is somewhat stout, slightly tapering at each end. The head and first segment are pale brown and horny; the rest of the body being pale greenish-ochreous. Each segment is provided with eight black warts arranged in two rows consisting of two and six respectively. Each of these warts gives rise to a small black bristle. The length of the larva when full-grown is about 1 inch.[6]

It is endemic to New Zealand.[1] This species has been observed in both the North and South Islands including at Kaeo, Waimarino, Ohakune, Wellington, Mount Arthur and the Ōtira River.[6]

This species is a day flying moth.[7] It is double brooded with adults being on the wing from September until November and again from February until April.[6] Whilst at rest this species places its wings backwards and slightly lifted, with the antennae extended and the hindwings often almost hidden.[6] Hudson described their flying manner as "fussy".[6]

The larvae feed on Senecio bellidioides and Brachyglottis repanda.[6] When feeding off S. bellidioides they live in a silken gallery, is formed amongst the young shoots of the plant.[6] When feeding on B. repanda they build a silken curtain under which they shelter and feed.[6] Pupation takes place in white silken cocoons amongst the dead shoots of their host plant.[6]