''Pasiphila bilineolata'' is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

in the family

Geometridae The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''met ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and can be found in the

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...

and South Islands. The species inhabits native forest and shrubland and the larvae feed on '' Hebe'' species. Adults are on the wing commonly from August to January but have been observed most months of the year and are attracted to light.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1862 and named ''Eupithecia bilineolata''. Walker used a specimen collected by T. R. Oxley in

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

. In 1888

Edward Meyrick Edward Meyrick (25 November 1854, in Ramsbury – 31 March 1938, at Thornhanger, Marlborough) was an English schoolmaster and amateur entomologist. He was an expert on microlepidoptera and some consider him one of the founders of modern m ...

placed this species in the genus ''Pasiphila''. In 1898 and again in 1928

George Hudson George Hudson (probably 10 March 1800 – 14 December 1871) was an English railway financier and politician who, because he controlled a significant part of the railway network in the 1840s, became known as "The Railway King"—a title conferr ...

discussed and illustrated this species under the name ''Chloroclystis bilineolata''. In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species back in the genus ''Pasiphila''. In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement and also synonymised ''Chloroclystis lacustris'', ''Chloroclystis paralodes'' and ''Chloroclystis zatricha'' with this species. Robert Hoare, in the New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity, followed this placement. The female

holotype A holotype is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism, known to have been used when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described. It is either the single such physical example (or illustration) or one of several ...

specimen is held at the

Natural History Museum, London The Natural History Museum in London is a museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum an ...

Description

Walker described the species as follows: The forewings are bright green with numerous wavy darker lines. The hindwings are grey, slightly tinged with reddish. Adults are on wing from September to May.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been observed in the North and South Islands.

Behaviour

This species is on the wing mainly from August to January but observations have also been recorded in February, April, May and June. This species is attracted to light.

Habitat and hosts

Veronica salicifolia - Jardin des Plantes

The larvae feed on the flowers and foliage of '' Hebe'' species. Adults of this species inhabit native forest and shrublands. Adult moths have been observed feeding on the flowers of ''

Dracophyllum acerosum ''Dracophyllum acerosum'' is a species of shrub or small tree endemic to New Zealand's South Island. It was first described by Sven Berggren in 1877 and gets the specific epithet ''acerosum'', meaning needles shaped, for its leaves. In the heath ...

'', ''

Dracophyllum uniflorum ''Dracophyllum'' is a genus of plants belonging to the family Ericaceae, formerly Epacridaceae. There are 61 species in the genus, mostly shrubs, but also cushion plants and trees, found in New Zealand, Australia, Lord Howe Island and New Caledon ...

'' and ''

Veronica salicifolia ''Veronica salicifolia'', synonym ''Hebe salicifolia'', the koromiko, or willow-leaf hebe, is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, which is found throughout the South Island of New Zealand and in Chile. It is a large, evergreen shrub, ...

''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13879045 Moths described in 1862 bilineolata Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist) Endemic moths of New Zealand