Asaphodes obarata
Asaphodes obarata, also known as the blue carpet moth, 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. The female holotype specimen was collected by Thomas R. Oxley in Nelson and is held at the Natural [History Museum, London|Natural History Museum] in London. Edward Meyrick placed the species within the genus Larentia in 1884. In 1898 George Vernon Hudson placed the species within the genus Xanthorhoe. In 1971 John S. Dugdale assigned Xanthorhoe obarata to the genus Asaphodes. 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. As well as Nelson, it has been collected in Wellington, Christchurch and at the foot of Mount Hutt. It has also been collected at North Island [Volcanic Plateau|Waimarino] and Ohakune in the North Island as well as in Akaroa, Otira, Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill in the South Island.This species is regarded as being rare. There has been a contraction of range in Dunedin and Southland; and this species is now considered locally extinct in both Dunedin and Invercargill.