Asaphodes clarata explained

Asaphodes clarata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been found on the North and South Islands. The species inhabits open grassy areas, including tussock grasslands, in montane habitat. The larvae feed on the leaves of Ranunculus species. The adult moths are day flying and are on the wing from December to February and have been shown to pollinate Celmisia laricifolia and Hebe pinguifolia.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Francis Walker in 1862 as Larentia clarata using material collected in Waikouaiti in Otago.^{[1] [2]} Meyrick discussed this species under that name in both 1883 and 1884 and also synonymised Cidaria pyramaria with this species.^{[3] [4]} George Hudson also discussed and illustrated this species under the name Xanthorhoe clarata in both 1898 and in 1928.^{[5] [6]} In 1971 J. S. Dugdale confirmed the placement of this species in the genus Asaphodes. In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement in his catalogue of New Zealand Lepidoptera. The female holotype specimen, collected at Waikouaiti, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Hudson described the species as follows:This species varies in the colour intensity and the width of the white markings of its forewings.

Distribution

A. clarata is endemic to New Zealand.^{[7] [8]} It is an upland species and occurs on the tussock covered slopes of ranges in both the North and South Islands.^[9] It has been recorded as being present in Otago and in Canterbury.^{[10] [11]}

Behaviour

The adults of this species are on the wing from November to March. It is a day flying moth.

Habitat and host species

This species frequents open grassy patches in montane habitat. Larvae of this species feed on the foliage of Ranunculus species.^[12] The adult moth has been shown to pollinate Celmisia laricifolia and Hebe pinguifolia.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 173. 10 July 2018. 27 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012006/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/49008/FNZ14Dugdale1988150.pdf. dead.
2. Walker. Francis. 1862. Geometrites (continued).. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. XXIV. 1021–1280. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. 528.
4. 79.
5. Book: Hudson, George Vernon. New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). West, Newman & Co.. 1898. London. 61–62. 10.5962/bhl.title.7912.
6. 118-119.
7. 459.
8. Web site: Asaphodes clarata (Walker, 1862). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-07-10.
9. Book: Gaskin, D. E.. The butterflies and common moths of New Zealand.. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. 1966. Christchurch. 138. 4624894.
10. Patrick . B. . Lepidoptera of Danseys Pass, Otago . New Zealand Entomologist . January 1982 . 7 . 3 . 332–336 . 10.1080/00779962.1982.9722418 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929181318/http://www.ento.org.nz/nzentomologist/free_issues/NZEnto07_3_1982/Volume%207-3-332-336.pdf . dead . 2011-09-29 . 10 July 2018.
11. White . E. G. . The changing abundance of moths in a tussock grassland, 1962-1989, and 50-to 70-year trends . New Zealand Journal of Ecology . 1991 . 15 . 1 . 5–22 . 10.1.1.411.5259 .
12. Web site: PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database. plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2018-07-10.
13. Primack . Richard B. . Insect pollination in the New Zealand mountain flora . New Zealand Journal of Botany . July 1983 . 21 . 3 . 317–333 . 10.1080/0028825X.1983.10428561 .