Asterivora barbigera facts for kids

The Asterivora barbigera is a type of moth that belongs to the family Choreutidae. This special moth is found only in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic to that country.

Meet the Asterivora barbigera Moth

This fascinating moth was first described in 1915 by a scientist named Edward Meyrick. It's a small creature, but it has some interesting features that make it unique.

What Does It Look Like?

The Asterivora barbigera moth has a wingspan of about 19 millimeters (which is less than an inch). That's roughly the length of a small paperclip!

• Head and Body: The moth's head has a shiny, bronze color mixed with white and dark brownish-gray specks. Its main body, called the thorax, is a grayish-bronze color with white sprinkles. The abdomen, which is the back part of its body, is bronzy-gray, but the edges of its segments are white.

• Forewings: The front wings are long and get wider towards the back. They have a gentle curve along the top edge and a rounded tip. The outer edge of the wing is curved and sloped. These wings are a grayish-bronze color and have white specks scattered all over them, especially near the top edge and on a band near the outer edge. There's also a small white dot across the end of a special part of the wing called the cell. Another line, made of white specks, curves strongly outwards on the wing.

• Hindwings: The back wings of the moth are a lighter shade of gray.

Where Does This Moth Live?

As mentioned, the Asterivora barbigera moth is found only in New Zealand. This means it has adapted perfectly to the environment there and relies on the specific plants and conditions found in that country to survive.