Austrocidaria stricta
Austrocidaria stricta is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. This species was described by Alfred Philpott in 1915. It endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Fiordland and Otago regions. A. stricta inhabits upland scrubland. Larvae feed on the leaves of Coprosma species. Adults are on the wing in February and March.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1915 using specimens collected on Bold Peak in the Humboldt Range by George Howes in February and named Xanthorhoe stricta. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Austrocidaria. The male holotype specimen is held at Te Papa.Description
Philpott described this species as follows:This species is very similar in appearance to Asaphodes cataphracta but can be distinguished from that species by the absence of the white fasciae and the somewhat longer antennal pectinations.