Asterivora exocha facts for kids
The Asterivora exocha is a type of moth. It belongs to the Choreutidae family. A scientist named Edward Meyrick first described it in 1907. This moth is special because it is found only in New Zealand. This means it is endemic to New Zealand.
Quick facts for kids Asterivora exocha |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Choreutidae
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| Genus: |
Asterivora
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| Species: |
A. exocha
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| Binomial name | |
| Asterivora exocha (Meyrick, 1907)
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Contents
What Does the Asterivora exocha Moth Look Like?
This moth is quite small. Its wingspan is about 20 millimeters (mm). That's roughly the width of a small coin!
Colors and Patterns
- Head and Body: The moth's head, mouthparts (palpi), and chest (thorax) are a mix of grey-whitish and blackish colors.
- Antennae: Its feelers, called antennae, are pale grey with blackish rings.
- Abdomen: The main body part (abdomen) is brownish-grey (fuscous). The edges of its body segments have some whitish mixed in.
Wings
- Forewings: The front wings are long and somewhat wide. They are an olive-brownish-grey color. The top edge (costa) is gently curved. The tip (apex) is rounded. The outer edge (termen) is slightly wavy.
- Patterns on Forewings: The base of the wing has whitish speckles. There's a thin whitish line near the base. This line forms a sharp angle near the top edge. After this, there's a very uneven area of whitish speckles. A triangle shape extends from this area towards the center of the wing.
- Second Line: Another clear white line runs from the middle of the top edge. It goes about three-quarters of the way across the wing. Then it makes a sharp angle towards the middle of the bottom edge. This line is a bit wavy near the top and bottom edges.
- Hindwings: The back wings are grey. They are darker towards the outer edge. Sometimes, you can see a faint whitish spot near the outer edge, below the middle.
Where Does This Moth Live?
The Asterivora exocha moth is found only in New Zealand. This makes it a unique part of New Zealand's wildlife. It lives in places like the Humboldt Mountains.
What Do Its Larvae Eat?
The young moths, called larvae, feed on a plant known as Brachyglottis cassinioides. This plant is important for the moth's life cycle.
Images for kids
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Illustration of A. exocha by George Hudson.
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Humboldt Mountains, type locality of A. exocha.
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Larval host species Brachyglottis cassinioides
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