Asaphodes cosmodora explained

Asaphodes cosmodora is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. The adults of this species are on the wing in January and February.

Taxonomy

A. cosmodora was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 as Larentia cosmodora using material he collected at Gordon's Pyramid on Mount Arthur in January.^{[1] [2]} George Hudson also discussed this species under the name Xanthorhoe clarata in both 1898 and in 1928.^{[3] [4]} 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.^[5] Dugdale also proposed that the species Asaphodes bryopis be synonymised with A. cosmodora. The female holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Meyrick originally described the species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^{[6] [7]} Along with mountainous areas in the Kahurangi National Park, this species has also been found in the Dansey ecological district in Otago at altitudes of between 1000 and 1300 m.^[8]

Biology and life cycle

A. cosmodora can be found on the wing in January and February.

Notes and References

1. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 1–269. 19 August 2018. 0477025188. 27 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012448/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
2. Meyrick. Edward. 1888. Notes on New Zealand Geometrina. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 20. 47–62. Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. Book: Hudson, George Vernon. New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). West, Newman & Co.. 1898. London. 62. 10.5962/bhl.title.7912.
4. 115.
5. 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.
6. Web site: Asaphodes cosmodora (Meyrick, 1888) . www.nzor.org.nz . Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research Ltd . 19 August 2018.
7. Book: New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume Two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. Canterbury University Press. 2010. 9781877257933. Gordon. Dennis P.. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.. 459. 973607714.
8. Book: Insects of the Dansey Ecological District. Patrick. B.H.. Department of Conservation, New Zealand. 1991. 0-478-01285-3. Wellington, N.Z.. 17. 19 August 2018.