Pasiphila punicea

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Pasiphila punicea is a moth in the Geometridae family. It was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1923 and is endemic to New Zealand, living in native forests and scrub on both the North and South Islands. The species is often found near Veronica plants. Adults are mainly on the wing in November and December and are attracted to light.

Taxonomy: It was originally named Chloroclystis punicea. George Hudson discussed it under that name in 1928. In 1971 John S. Dugdale moved it to the genus Pasiphila. The male holotype was collected by Philpott at Rowallan in Fiordland and is kept at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.

Appearance: The male is about 25 mm long, green with yellow and pink shading; females also show a pinkish tint.