Acrocercops panacicorticis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Acrocercops panacicorticis
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Parectopa panacicorticis Watt, 1920

Acrocercops panacicorticis is a tiny moth from the family Gracillariidae. This special moth lives in New Zealand.

Mine created by the larva

About the Acrocercops panacicorticis Moth

This moth is quite small! Its wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other when the wings are spread out) is usually between 7 and 8 millimeters. That's less than half an inch!

How Larvae Live Inside Plants

The young moths, called larvae, have a unique way of living. They feed on a plant called Nothopanax arboreum. But they don't just eat the leaves; they live inside the plant's stem!

Creating Tunnels

• The larvae create tunnels, or "mines," inside the stem.
• These tunnels are like long, narrow hallways that get wider as the larva grows.
• They usually follow the stem's length, especially in the younger parts.
• When they reach a "node" (a bump on the stem where a leaf grows), they might turn around or go into the next section.
• Sometimes, a larva's tunnel can fill up a whole section of the stem.
• It's rare to find tunnels that lead to a dead end.

What the Tunnels Look Like

• The tunnels can sometimes be a bit twisty.
• Usually, only one section of the stem is used by a single larva.
• However, sometimes two larvae might share a small stem section.
• The tunnels are white at first.
• Later, they turn white or a very light brown color.
• The frass (which is the larva's waste) is very little.
• In the newer parts of the tunnel, the frass forms a thin line down the middle.

Images for kids

• 

  Illustration of A. panacicorticis.

See Also

• List of moths of New Zealand