Asaphodes prasinias
Asaphodes prasinias, also known as the yellow and brown carpet moth, is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found on both the North and South Islands. This species inhabits native forest including beech forest and subalpine scrub. The range of this species has reduced as this species is regarded as being locally extinct in the previously inhabited open non-forest habitats around Invercargill. Adults are on the wing from November to January.
Taxonomy
This species was first described in 1883 by Edward Meyrick using specimens collected by Castle Hill in Canterbury by J. D. Enys and named Larentia prasinias. Meyrick gave a fuller description of the species later in 1884. George Hudson discussed the species in his 1898 volume New Zealand moths and butterflies and referred to it as Xanthorhoe prasinias. Hudson discussed and illustrated also this species under that name in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1939 Louis Beethoven Prout confirmed the placement of 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. This placement was reaffirmed by Dugdale in 1988. The male lectotype, collected at Castle Hill, is held by the Natural History Museum, London.Description
Meyrick described this species as follows:The appearance of this species can vary in the depth of ground colour, as well as the width of the transverse lines, on the forewings.