Asaphodes obarata explained

Asaphodes obarata is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in both the North and South Islands. It seems to inhabit the margins of native forest and also frequents plains, with an affinity for gorse hedges. The host plants of the larvae of this species are unknown. The adults are on the wing in December and January. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation. There has been a contraction of range of A. obarata with it now being regarded as locally extinct in both Dunedin and Invercargill.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Cajetan Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875 as Cidaria obarata.^[1] The female holotype specimen was collected by Thomas R. Oxley in Nelson and is held at the Natural History Museum in London.^[2] Edward Meyrick placed the species within the genus Larentia in 1884.^[3] In 1898 George Vernon Hudson placed the species within the genus Xanthorhoe.^[4] In 1971 John S. Dugdale assigned Xanthorhoe obarata to the genus Asaphodes.^[5] In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement in his catalogue of New Zealand Lepidoptera.

Description

Hudson described A. obarata as follows:

Distribution

Asaphodes obarata is endemic to New Zealand.^[6] As well as Nelson, it has been collected in Wellington, Christchurch and at the foot of Mount Hutt. It has also been collected at Waimarino and Ohakune in the North Island as well as in Akaroa, Otira, Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill in the South Island.^[7]

There has been a contraction of range in Dunedin and Southland; and this species is now considered locally extinct in both Dunedin and Invercargill.^{[8] [9]}

Ecology and habitat

Hudson states that this species could be found on the margins of forests and R. W. Fereday communicated that it was a plain-frequenting species that has an affinity for gorse hedges. Hudson also stated that adult moths were on the wing in December and January.

Host plants

The host plants of this species are unknown.

Conservation status

This moth is classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being Nationally Critical.^[10] It has been hypothesised that this species is likely under threat as a result of habitat loss.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Felder . Cajetan . Rogenhofer . Alois Friedrich . 1864–1867 . Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara . Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. Von W . en . pt.9:Bd.2:Abt.2 (1864-1867) Atlas . cxxxiii fig 33 . Biodiversity Heritage Library.
2. Dugdale. J. S.. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 1988. 14. 174. 30 April 2018. 27 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012448/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf. dead.
3. Meyrick. Edward. A monograph of the New Zealand Geometrina.. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 1884. 16. 49–113. 30 April 2018.
4. Book: Hudson, G. V.. New Zealand moths and butterflies (macro-lepidoptera). Newman & Co.. 1898. London. 66. 10.5962/bhl.title.7912.
5. Dugdale. J. S.. 10 November 1971. Entomology of the Aucklands and other Islands south of New Zealand: Lepidoptera, excluding non-Crambine Pyralidae . Pacific Insects Monograph. 27. 55–172. Bishop Museum.
6. 459.
7. Book: Hudson, G. V.. George Hudson (entomologist)

   . The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Ferguson & Osborn Ltd.. 1928. Wellington. 121. George Hudson (entomologist).

8. Patrick. Brian H.. Ecology and conservation of the rare moth Asaphodes frivola Meyrick. The Weta. 2017. 47. 17–38. 30 April 2018.
9. Book: Conservation status of the New Zealand Lepidoptera.. Patrick. Brian. Dugdale. John S.. Department of Conservation. 2000. 0478218672. Wellington, New Zealand. 20.
10. Book: Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015. Hoare. R.J.B.. Dugdale. J.S.. Edwards. E.D.. Gibbs. G.W.. Patrick. B.H.. Hitchmough. R.A.. Rolfe. J.R.. New Zealand Department of Conservation. 2017. 9781988514383. Wellington, New Zealand. 5.
11. Book: Brian, Patrick. Conservation status of two rare New Zealand geometrid moths. 2000. Department of Conservation. 0478219466. Wellington, N.Z.. 54078998.