# Pasiphila erratica

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***Pasiphila erratica*** is a [moth](/source/Moth) of the family [Geometridae](/source/Geometridae).[1] It was [first described](/source/Species_description) by [Alfred Philpott](/source/Alfred_Philpott) in 1916. This species is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) and can be found in the [Otago](/source/Otago) and [Southland](/source/Southland_Region) regions. Adults are on the wing from November until January.

## Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1916 using specimens collected at Bold Peak, in the [Humboldt Ranges](/source/Humboldt_Mountains_(New_Zealand)), and at Mount Cleughearn in the [Hunter Mountains](/source/Hunter_Mountains) in the South Island.[2] Philpott originally named the species *Chloroclystis erratica*.[3] [George Hudson](/source/George_Hudson_(entomologist)) discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his 1928 publication *The butterflies and moths of New Zealand*.[4] In 1971 [John S. Dugdale](/source/John_S._Dugdale) placed this species in the genus *Pasiphila*.[5] The male [holotype](/source/Holotype), collected at Mount Cleughearn, Hunter Mountains is held at the [New Zealand Arthropod Collection](/source/New_Zealand_Arthropod_Collection).[3]

## Description

Philpott described the adults of this species as follows:

♂♀. 19-23 mm. Head and palpi fuscous mixed with greyish. Palpi, 2 1⁄4. Antennae in ♂fasciculate-ciliate, ciliations 3 1⁄2. Thorax grey-fuscous with broad central stripe reddish-brown. Abdomen reddish-brown sprinkled with fuscous and grey, sides fuscous. Forewings elongate-triangular, termen obliquely bowed, greyish-fuscous ; a curved grey fascia near base, often obscure ; median band limited anteriorly by curved grey fascia slightly indented below middle and margined more or less with blackish on both sides ; preceding this a parallel, suffused, reddish-brown fascia ; 3 or 4thin waved grey fasciae in posterior portion of median band ; posterior margin of median band from 2⁄3 costa to 4⁄5 dorsum, outwardly oblique to near middle of termen, thence abruptly bent inwards for about half the breadth of band and from vein 2 almost right-angled to dorsum ; a rather broad fascia of reddish-brown parallel to median band, paler anteriorly and sometimes traversed by a thin darker line ; a thin serrate grey subterminal line, close to termen on lower half ; a black line round termen : cilia fuscous-grey, obscurely barred with black. Hindwings, termen unevenly rounded ; fuscous-grey ; numerous lighter and darker fasciae from dorsum and a broader reddish-brown shade before termen ; a strong black terminal line : cilia as in forewings, but paler.[2]

This species has a dark central [fascia](/source/Glossary_of_entomology_terms) with reddish colouration on each side. This, along with the sharp angulation of the postmedian line, ensures it can be distinguished from other species in the genus.[6]

## Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It has been observed in the Southland and Otago regions.[7]

## Habitat and hosts

This species is said to be associated with *[Veronica odora](/source/Veronica_odora).*[2]

## Behaviour

Adults of this species are on the wing from November until January.[7]

## References

1. ["Pasiphila erratica (Philpott, 1916)"](http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/0c6f850d-d859-41cf-b31e-17df6897e68b). *www.nzor.org.nz*. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 30 January 2017.

1. Wikidata item [Q110284142](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110284142)

1. Wikidata item [Q45083134](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45083134)

1. Wikidata item [Q58593286](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58593286)

1. Wikidata item [Q64006453](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64006453)

1. Hoare, Robert (2022-11-13). ["Pasiphila erratica"](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/141927151). *iNaturalist*. Retrieved 2025-08-05.

1. ["Pasiphila erratica (Philpott, 1916)"](https://www.gbif.org/species/1954341). *www.gbif.org*. Retrieved 2025-08-05.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pasiphila erratica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasiphila_erratica) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasiphila_erratica?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.