Biology:Asaphodes beata

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Short description: Species of moth


Asaphodes beata
Asaphodes beata female.jpg
Female
Asaphodes beata male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Asaphodes
Species:
A. beata
Binomial name
Asaphodes beata
(Butler, 1877)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Meyrick, 1914 Butler, 1877
  • (Butler, 1877) Xanthorhoe beata
  • Cidaria beata (Butler, 1877)
  • Xanthorhoe benedicta Larentia beata

Asaphodes beata (also known as the dotted green carpet moth)[2] is a species of moth in the family Geometridae.[3] It is endemic to New Zealand and is a relatively common species that can be found throughout the country in native forest or scrub habitat. It can be distinguished from its close relative Asaphodes adonis by the colour of its hind wings. The larvae of this species feeds on watercress but tends to be inactive during the day. If threatened it will mimic a twig dropping to the ground. The adult moths are on the wing from October to March and are said to be attracted to white rātā. The white markings on the forewing of the adults are variable in appearance.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 as Cidaria beata using a specimen from the collection of J. D. Enys.[4] In 1884 Edward Meyrick placed this species in the genus Larentia.[5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species both in his 1898 book under the name Xanthorhoe beata and again in his 1928 publication under the name Xanthorhoe benedicata.[6][7] In 1927 Louis Beethoven Prout synonymised Xanthorhoe benedicta with Xanthorhoe beata.[8] In 1939 Prout placed this species back in the genus Larentia.[9] However this placement was not accepted by New Zealand taxonomists.[10] In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Asaphodes.[11] This placement was affirmed by Dugdale in 1988.[12] The male holotype specimen, likely collected at Castle Hill in mid Canterbury, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[12]

Description

Observation of A. beata.
Observation of A. beata.

Hudson described the egg of this moth as being:

about one fiftieth of an inch in length, oval, considerably flattened, with a distinct concavity on each side. It is green, highly polished, with numerous very shallow hexagonal depressions. Its colour changes to greyish-green about two days prior to hatching.[7]

He described the larvae as:

orange-brown, becoming greenish-brown soon after emergence. The full-grown larva is dark brown above and pale brown beneath, the two colours being sharply separated on the sides by a broken white line. A series of V-shaped markings is situated on the back, each mark enclosing a paler area. Several fine black wavy lines traverse the darker portions of the larva, and a dark mark, edged with black beneath, is situated on each segment just above the ventral surface.[6]

The larva forms a frail cocoon on the ground in which it pupates.[6]

Butler originally described the adults of this species as follows:

Above very similar in pattern to the preceding species, but much smaller, and the primaries with all the markings olive-green instead of bronzy brown ; the secondaries white instead of yellow, with a pale pinky brown outer border ; thorax olive-green ; abdomen testaceous : primaries below with the basal area, to the extremity of the dentated central band of the upper surface, madder-brown ; costa testaceous, tinted with olivaceous, and crossed by ferruginous bars ; disk whity-brown ; apex and outer border shining testaceous, almost golden ; a submarginal series of white dots ; fringe silvery white, black-spotted ; secondaries pale testaceous, increasing in intensity to the outer border, which is golden, crossed by parallel crenate olivaceous lines, three of which form a central band, relieved externally by white lunules ; disk crossed by paler olivaceous lines, followed by a submarginal series of white lunules ; body below testaceous. Expanse of wings 1 inch.[4]

This species can be distinguished from its close relative A. adonis by the colour of its hind wings.[13] Hudson states that the white markings on the forewings of this moth are variable.[6] This species is very similar in appearance to A. philpotti, to the point where A. philpotti was previously encapsulated within the concept of this species.[14]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] This relatively common species can be found in forest throughout the country.[2]

Behaviour

The larvae of this species is inactive during the day and when threatened mimics a twig dropping to the ground.[7] Adult moths are on the wing from October until March.[7]

Habitat

This species inhabits native forest and scrub.[7]

Host species

Nasturtium officinale, introduced host species

Hudson stated that the larvae of this species feed on watercress.[6] Larvae have also been found on native herb plants in the genera Epilobium, Cardamine, and Stellaria.[15] Adults are said to be attracted to the flowers of the white rātā.[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "NZOR Name Details - Asaphodes beata (Butler, 1877)". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/a15b9e94-ea03-4cc2-8c02-fd2b9403a317. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Crowe, Andrew (2017) (in English). Which New Zealand insect?. Penguin Books. pp. 20. ISBN 978-0-14-100636-9. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105622564. 
  3. , p. 458 , Wikidata Q45922947
  4. 4.0 4.1 , pp. 397 , Wikidata Q109479517
  5. , pp. 79-80 , Wikidata Q109615359
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 , pp. 63 , Wikidata Q19073637
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 , pp. 117 , Wikidata Q58593286
  8. , pp. 77 , Wikidata Q110670763
  9. Prout, L. B. (1939). "Geometridae: Fauna Indo-Australica". The Macrolepidoptera of the World 12: 264. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12779936. 
  10.  , Wikidata Q54670161
  11.  , Wikidata Q64006453
  12. 12.0 12.1 , pp. 172 , Wikidata Q45083134
  13. Meyrick, E (1908). "Notes and descriptions of New Zealand lepidoptera." (in en). Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 41: 6. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3312287#page/24/mode/1up. 
  14. , pp. 77-78 , Wikidata Q110670763
  15.  , Wikidata Q109608608

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q28790438 entry