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Arctesthes siris facts for kids

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Arctesthes siris
Arctesthes siris male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Arctesthes
Species:
A. siris
Binomial name
Arctesthes siris
(Hudson, 1908)
Synonyms
  • Lythria siris Hudson, 1908

The Arctesthes siris is a type of moth that belongs to the Geometridae family. This special moth is endemic to New Zealand, which means it is only found there.

Discovering the Arctesthes siris

Lythria siris Fig. 1 Plate 15 Trans. N.Z. Inst. Vol. 40
This drawing shows the A. siris when it was first described.

Scientists group living things using a system called taxonomy. This helps them understand how different species are related. The Arctesthes siris was first described in 1908 by a scientist named George Vernon Hudson.

He named it Lythria siris back then. Hudson's description was based on moths found by J. H. Lewis. These moths were discovered high up in the Old Man Range in Central Otago, New Zealand, at about 1,200 metres above sea level.

Where the Arctesthes siris Lives

The A. siris moth is only found in the high mountain areas of Otago, New Zealand. It really likes places with wetlands and areas near snow banks. These moths have been seen flying at very high altitudes, usually between 1,300 and 1,500 metres. You can find them in mountain ranges like the Lammermoor Range, the Old Man Range, and the Rock and Pillar ranges.

Life of the Arctesthes siris

Unlike many moths that fly at night, the A. siris is a day-flying moth. This means you can see it flying around during the day. Adult moths have been observed in February, which is summer in New Zealand.

What the Arctesthes siris Eats

The plants that an insect eats or lives on are called its host species. For the A. siris moth, its host species are certain types of Coprosma plants. These are usually low-growing, mat-forming plants.

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