Asaphodes adonis
Asaphodes adonis ' is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It is found in native forest at altitudes of between 300 and 1200 metres. The larvae of A. adonis are extremely sluggish in habit, resting on stems of food plant and feeding on the dead portions. Larvae have been reared on species of Ranunculus. George Hudson stated that a larval food plant of this species is Nasturtium officinale''. Adults are on the wing in January and February. It can be found during the day resting on tree trunks, camouflaged against similar coloured lichen growth.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by George Vernon Hudson in 1898 under the name Xanthorhoe adonis using specimens collected at Castle Hill or at the Routeburn. Hudson went on to discuss and illustrate this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. He then described the larvae of this species in his 1939 publication A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1939 Louis Beethoven Prout placed this species in the genus Larentia. This placement was not accepted by New Zealand taxonomists. In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Asaphodes. In 1988 Dugdale affirmed this placement in his catalogue of New Zealand Lepidoptera. The type specimens have not been located at Te Papa. Dugdale presumed that the syntype series of specimens Hudson sent to Meyrick is held in the Natural [History Museum, London].Description
Hudson described the egg and larvae of this species as follows:Hudson originally described the adults of species as follows:
A. adonis has vivid green forewings with dark coloured broad wavy lines edged with white which form a distinctive pattern. The dark coloured wavy lines can vary considerably in thickness. The hind wings are a pale orange shaded brown. This species can be distinguished from its close relative Asaphodes beata by the colour of its hind wings.