Hydriomena arida
Hydriomena arida, also known as the Gunnera carpet moth, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in both the South and Stewart Islands where it inhabits native forest. It has been observed at up to 3000 ft. Larvae feed on Gunnera monoica. Adults of this species are on the wing from December until February and are nocturnal and attracted to light. This species is regarded as being uncommon.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 using specimens collected by Frederick Wollaston Hutton in Dunedin and named Melanthia arida. In 1883 Edward Meyrick, thinking he was describing a new species, named this species as Cidaria chaotica. Meyrick synonymised this name into Cidaria arida in 1884. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Hydriomena arida in both his 1898 book New Zealand moths and butterflies and his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. It has been hypothesised that species belongs to another genus and so this species is also currently known as Hydriomena ''arida. In 1971 John S. Dugdale suggested this species may fall within the genus Cephalissa'' but in 1988 kept the current placement of this species. The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural [History Museum, London].Description
Hudson described this species as follows:This species is variable in appearance. Hudson goes on to say that this species can be distinguished from similar appearing species as its forewings are very darkly coloured but have a broad often paler median band.