''Xanthorhoe frigida'' is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The larvae of this species feeds on species in the plant genus ''

Pachycladon ''Pachycladon'' (with synonyms ''Cheesemania'' and ''Ischnocarpus'') is a genus of flowering plants of the family Brassicaceae, native to Tasmania and the South Island of New Zealand. It contains the following species: * ''Pachycladon cheesemani ...

'' including the threatened ''Pachycladon wallii''''.'' The adults of this species are on the wing from December to February''.'' This moth is classified as nationally vulnerable by the

Department of Conservation An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment ...

Taxonomy

''Xanthorhoe frigida'' was first described by George Howes in 1946 using a specimen collected by T. M. Smith at Homer in December 1944. The holotype specimen is held at

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand's national museum and is located in Wellington. ''Te Papa Tongarewa'' translates literally to "container of treasures" or in full "container of treasured things and people that spring fr ...

Description

Howes described the species as follows:

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found in Mackenzie,

Central Otago Central Otago is located in the inland part of the Otago region in the South Island of New Zealand. The motto for the area is "A World of Difference". The area is dominated by mountain ranges and the upper reaches of the Clutha River and tributa ...

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and Fiordland areas. This species prefers subalpine/alpine habitat. As at 2000 this species was only known from 5 localities. Other than its type locality, the species has more recently been collected at Rastus Burn Basin, The Remarkables in December and February, the Eyre Ecological District, northern Southland, and in the alpine zone of the Ben Nevis Pastoral lease area,

Host plants

This species feeds on ''

'' species. A host plant of this species is the at risk and naturally uncommon ''

Pachycladon wallii ''Pachycladon'' (with synonyms ''Cheesemania'' and ''Ischnocarpus'') is a genus of flowering plants of the family Brassicaceae, native to Tasmania and the South Island of New Zealand. It contains the following species: * '' Pachycladon cheesema ...

''.

Conservation status

This species has the "Nationally Vulnerable" conservation status under the

New Zealand Threat Classification System The New Zealand Threat Classification System is used by the Department of Conservation to assess conservation priorities of species in New Zealand. The system was developed because the IUCN Red List, a similar conservation status system, had some ...

References

External links

Image of holotype specimen.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q13546646 frigida Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Moths described in 1946 Endangered biota of New Zealand Taxa named by George Howes (entomologist) Endemic moths of New Zealand