This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 and named Helastia charybdis using specimens collected by F. W. Hutton in Dunedin.[4][2] In 1879, thinking he was describing a new species, Butler also named this species Helastia calida.[4]George Hudson, also thinking he was describing a new species, named it Chloroclystis antarctica in 1898.[5] In 1917 Meyrick placed this species within the genus Chloroclystis and synonymised Helastia calida with it.[6] Hudson discussed Chloroclystis charybdis in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand but said he was unacquainted with the species.[7] In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Pasiphila.[8] Dugdale confirmed this placement in 1988 and synonymised C. antarctica with P. charydbis.[2] The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2]
Description
Illustration of P. charybdis by Hudson.
Hudson described the larvae of this species as follows:
The larva of this species, which feeds on the common Veronica in December, is, when full-grown, about 3⁄4 in. in length, rather attenuated anteriorly, almost uniform, dark reddish-brown, darker on the sides. The head is reddish, and there are traces of several longitudinal lines in younger larvae. Others are dull yellowish-brown, with the lines plainer and the prolegs pale-yellow; but as the larva is so extremely variable a detailed description hardly appears possible.[9]
Butler described the adults of this species as follows:
primaries above smoky-grey, crossed by about eight zigzag blackish lines in pairs, forming indications of four bands which are most strongly defined upon the costa; a whitish-edged black lunule between the last two bands; the last band partially filled in with sandy-whitish and brown; fringe whitish flesh-coloured intersected by a grey line and interrupted at the terminations of the veins by blackish spots; secondaries pale smoky-grey, the veins black spotted with whitish; extreme outer margin black; fringe as in the primaries; body brownish-grey, head yellowish; antennae smoky-grey, strongly pectinated; under surface sericeous grey; markings of upper surface ill-defined; discocellulars black; primaries with pale reddish cupreous costal area; secondaries with a series of short black dashes beyond the cell; fringe paler than the rest of the wings, spotted with dark grey. Expanse of wings 10+1⁄2 lines.[4]
When discussing this species Dugdale stated:
Gathered under this name are the intricately patterned brown and green "species" with one spine-like cornutus on the aedeagal vesica.[2]
Habitat and hosts
The larval hosts of this species are plants in the genus Veronica.[9] Larvae have been successfully raised on Hebe
Life cycle
The pupa of this species can be found enfolded with silk between two leaves of its larval host.[9] The adults of this species are on the wing from December.[9]
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