Asaphodes exoriens

Asaphodes exoriens is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand.

Asaphodes exoriens
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Asaphodes
Species:
A. exoriens
Binomial name
Asaphodes exoriens
(Prout, 1912)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Larentia exoriens Prout, 1912
  • Xanthorhoe exoriens (Prout, 1912)

Taxonomy

This species was described by Louis Beethoven Prout in 1912 as Larentia exoriens using material collected by George Howes at Glenorchy in Otago in March.[2][3] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Xanthorhoe exoriens in his 1928 publication The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand.[4]

In 1987 Robin C. Craw proposed assigning this species to the genus Asaphodes.[5] In 1988 John S. Dugdale agreed with this proposal.[2] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]

Description

Hudson described the species as follows:

The expansion of the wings is ​1 1⁄8 inches. All the wings are ochreous, the forewings being strongly tinged with reddish on the costa and extreme base; the median band consists of four very irregular faint blackish lines, the second and third lines forming three distinct loops; there is a distinct blackish discal dot and the outer edge of the median band is very strongly waved, with distinct projections above and below the middle; the subterminal area is broad with one or two very faint cloudy marks; all the wings have a terminal series of minute brown marks, and all the cilia are plain ochreous without bars. The underside of the hind-wings is dull reddish-ochreous without bars. The underside of the hind-wings is dull reddish-ochreous without distinct markings.[4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1][6] It has only been found in Central Otago.[4]

Biology and life cycle

A. exoriens is on the wing in March.[4]

Habitat and host species

A. exoriens is an alpine species that frequents open grassy habitat.[4][7] The adult moths are found in upland wetland habitat at altitudes of between 800-1100m.[8]

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References
  1. "Asaphodes exoriens (Prout, 1912)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  2. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 173. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  3. Prout, L. B. (1912). "Notes on the nomenclature of the New Zealand Geometridae, with descriptions of a new species". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 44: 52–54 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 121. OCLC 25449322.
  5. Craw, R. C. (2 February 2012). "Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14 (2): 269–293. doi:10.1080/03014223.1987.10422997.
  6. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity, Volume Two, Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 459. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  7. Dickinson, K. J. M.; Mark, A. F.; Barratt, B. I. P.; Patrick, B. H. (March 1998). "Rapid ecological survey, inventory and implementation: A case study from Waikaia Ecological Region, New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 28 (1): 83–156. doi:10.1080/03014223.1998.9517556. ISSN 0303-6758.
  8. Patrick, Brian (2014). "Ecology and conservation of the rare moth Asaphodes frivola Meyrick" (PDF). Weta. 47: 17–38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-27.
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