Pasiphila rivalis
Pasiphila rivalis is a moth of the family Geometridae. This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1916. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on the North and South Islands. It inhabits native subalpine scrub. Adults of this species are commonly observed in December and January.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1916 and originally named Chloroclystis rivalis. In 1928 George Hudson illustrated and discussed this species under that name in his both his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand as well as his 1939 book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Pasiphila. The male holotype, collected by Philpott at Mount Cleughearn in the Hunter Mountains, is held at the New Zealand [Arthropod Collection].Description
Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:Philpott described the adults of this species as follows:
This species is easily distinguishable from similar species in its genus such as P. sandycias as it has a much darker colour to both its fore and hind wings.