''Dichromodes simulans'' is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of ...

of the family

Geometridae The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''metr ...

. This species was first described by

George Hudson George Hudson (probably 10 March 1800 – 14 December 1871) was an English railway financier and politician who, because he controlled a significant part of the railway network in the 1840s, became known as "The Railway King"—a title conferr ...

in 1908. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

and is regarded as rarely encountered. It has been observed in Otago including at the type locality of the Old Man Range / Kopuwai to the south of Alexandra, and at the Caleb Chapman Road Scientific Reserve.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by George Hudson in 1908 using specimens collected by J. H. Lewis at Old Man Range, Central Otago, at an altitude of about 4,000 ft. George Hudson described and illustrated this species in his book ''The butterflies and moths of New Zealand''. The

syntype In biological nomenclature, a syntype is any one of two or more biological types that is listed in a description of a taxon where no holotype was designated. Precise definitions of this and related terms for types have been established as part of ...

specimens are held at

Te Papa 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

Hudson described this species as follows: Hudson pointed out that this species is very similar in appearance to '' Paranotoreas fulva.'' However ''D. simulans'' can be distinguished as its wings are broader, the transverse lines more indented, and the cilia not strongly barred. The antennae of the male are unipectinated.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. ''D. simulans'' has been observed in Otago at the Old Man Range and to the south of Alexandra. It has also been observed in the Caleb Chapman Road Scientific Reserve. ''D. simulans'' is regarded as rarely encountered.

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits rocky sites. The larvae that feed on lichens growing on stones in open habitats.

Behaviour

Adults of this species are day flying and are on the wing from October until March.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13536142 Oenochrominae Moths described in 1908 Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by George Hudson Endemic moths of New Zealand