Asaphodes camelias

Asaphodes camelias is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, has been observed in both the North and South Islands and inhabits native forest. The adults of this species are on the wing from February to May and July to September.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 as Larentia camelias using a male specimen collected at the Whangārei Heads in December. George Hudson discussed this species in his 1898 book under the name Xanthorhoe camelias and again, as well as illustrating the species, in his 1928 publication. In 1971 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Asaphodes. This placement was affirmed by Dugdale in 1988. The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Meyrick described this species as follows:

This species is endemic to New Zealand. Specimens of this species have been collected in the southern North Island hill country, as well as near the Waitaha River and at Paroa, both in the South Island. A. camelias is regarded a typical species of the West Coast region.

The adults of this species are on the wing from February to May and July to September.

This species inhabits native forest.