Dasyuris hectori is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South Island. This species inhabits herb fields and rocky terrain in subalpine and alpine zones. Adults are day flying and are on the wing from December until February. Larvae feed on species in the genus Anisotome.
Taxonomy This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877 and originally named Euclidia hectori. In 1883 Edward Meyrick placed this species in the genus Statira. However, as this name was preoccupied, Meyrick then placed this species in the genus Stathmonyma. In 1898 George Hudson synonymised that name and placed this species in the genus Dasyuris. In that publication, New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera), Hudson redescribed and illustrated D. hectori. Using that same name, in 1928 Hudson again went on to describe and illustrate this species in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. The female holotype, collected by James Hector or John Davies Enys in either at the Otago Lakes or mid Canterbury, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.
Description
Hudson described this species as follows:
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island.
Habitat and hosts This species frequents rocky terrain at subalpine and alpine zones at altitudes from 4,700 to 5,700 feet above the sea-level. It can also be found in alpine herb fields. Larvae feed on species in the genus Anisotome.
Behaviour Adults of this species are on the wing from December until February. It is a fast flier and adults have been observed resting on blackened rocks in hot sunshine.
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