This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883 as Pasithea orphnaea.[4] Meyrick collected the type specimen of A. orphnaea in January of that year near the summit of Ben Lomond at 1700 metres.[4] This moth subsequently became known as Notoreas orphnaea after Meyrick renamed the genus Pasithea as Notoreas when he became aware of that Pasithea was preoccupied.[5] In 1986 R. C. Craw described the new genus Aponotoreas and included A. orphnaea within it.[3]
Distribution and habitat
A. orphnaea has been observed in the high alpine zone of Central Otago in wetland habitat.[6][7]A. orphnaea has also been found in alpine grassland habitat.[8] It is regarded as being locally common on land covered by Mount Aspiring Station.[9]
^ abMeyrick, Edward (1883). "A monograph of New Zealand Geometrina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16: 49–113 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
^Mark, A. F.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Patrick, B. H.; Barratt, B. I. P.; Loh, G.; McSweeney, G. D.; Meurk, C. D.; Timmins, S. M.; Simpson, N. C. (1989-12-01). "An ecological survey of the central part of the Eyre Ecological District, northern Southland, New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 19 (4): 349–384. doi:10.1080/03036758.1989.10421841. ISSN0303-6758.