Austrocidaria cedrinodes
Austrocidaria cedrinodes is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North, South and Stewart Islands. Although widespread across the country A. cedrinodes is regarded as being a scarce species. It inhabits open native scrubland populated with species of Leptospermum, Dracophyllum as well as species in the genus Coprosma. This latter genus contains the larval host plants of A. cedrinodes. Adults are on the wing commonly from September until February and are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 using two specimens collected at 4200 ft on the Mount Arthur tableland at night on Hebe blossoms by George Hudson. Meyrick originally named the species Xanthorhoe cedrinodes. In 1913 Alfred Philpott, thinking he was describing a new species, named this species Xanthorhoe undulata. This name was synonymised by Meyrick in 1917. In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Xanthorhoe cedrinodes. In 1939 Louis Beethoven Prout discussed this species under the name Xanthorhoe episema. John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Austrocidaria and at the same synonymised X. episema with that name. The male lectotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.Description
Meyrick described this species as follows:Hudson pointed out that both the males and females of this species vary in the intensity of their markings and colouring. This species has been confused with A. prionota however it can be distinguished as A. cedrinodes is of a larger size and the male of the species has pectinated antennae. It has also been confused with Hydriomena hemizona but again can be distinguished as a result of the antennae pectinations on the male A. cedrinodes.