Pasiphila magnimaculata

Pasiphila magnimaculata is a moth of the family Geometridae.^[1] This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1915. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands.

Pasiphila magnimaculata
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Genus:	Pasiphila
Species:	P. magnimaculata
Binomial name
Pasiphila magnimaculata (Philpott, 1915)[1]
Synonyms
Chloroclystis magnimaculata Philpott, 1915 Chloroclystis rufipellis Meyrick, 1927 Chloroclystis irabunda Prout, 1958

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1915 using specimens collected in Queenstown by Merlin Owen Pasco and originally named Chloroclystis magnimaculata.^[2] In 1928 George Hudson illustrated and discussed this species under that name in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.^[3] In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Pasiphila.^[4] The male holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.^[5]

Description

Illustration by Hudson.

Philpott originally described the adults of this species as follows:

♂♀. 19-21 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax greyish-green, in ♀ ochreous. Palpi 2. Antennae in ♂ ciliate-fasciculate, ciliations 4. Abdomen greenish-grey, in ♀ ochreous, with a reddish-fuscous antemedian band. Forewings triangular, costa gently arched, termen subsinuate, moderately oblique ; greyish-green ; costa narrowly reddish to 1⁄4 ; numerous reddish-fuscous waved lines from base to 3⁄4 , forming curved fascia at 1⁄3 ; outer edge of median band broadly and obtusely projecting at middle ; a large apical blotch of bright reddish-fuscous ; a smaller and paler tornal blotch with a minute white dot near centre ; subterminal line serrate, grey-green ; a reddish-fuscous line round termen : cilia greyish-green, suffused with reddish-fuscous except at middle of termen. Hindwings unevenly rounded ; pale greenish-grey ; a reddish-fuscous discal dot and numerous obscure waved reddish-fuscous striae, more prominent on dorsum : cilia greenish-grey with faint reddish-fuscous bars.^[2]

This species is very variable in appearance especially with regard to the intensity of colour pattern of specimens.^[5]

Distribution

Live specimen

P. magnimaculata is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands including in the Otago region and on Quail Island.^[1][6][7]

Habitat and hosts

This species usually inhabits montane areas.^[6] The larvae feed on the flowers of Gaultheria crassa.^[7]

Behaviour

Adults have been observed on the wing from October to February.^[8]