Austramathes purpurea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Austramathes purpurea |
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| Male Austramathes purpurea moth | |
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The Austramathes purpurea is a special type of moth found only in New Zealand. It belongs to the Noctuidae family, which includes many different kinds of moths. This moth was first officially described in 1879 by a scientist named Arthur Gardiner Butler. He studied a specimen, or example, of the moth that was found in a place called Otago.
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What Does the Austramathes purpurea Look Like?
This moth goes through different stages in its life, starting as a caterpillar.
The Caterpillar Stage
The young caterpillars of the Austramathes purpurea moth are usually green. They have cool markings on their bodies that can be orange, black, yellow, and even pink!
The Adult Moth Stage
When the caterpillar grows up, it turns into an adult moth. The size of the adult moth's wings can vary.
- Male moths usually have a wingspan between 29 and 37 millimeters.
- Female moths are a bit larger, with a wingspan from 29 to 42 millimeters.
A famous entomologist, George Hudson, described this moth in detail. He noted that the front wings are a shiny reddish-brown with some scattered whitish scales. They have yellow marks and dark spots that help identify them. The back wings are a lighter brown and have a clear dark spot in the middle.
Where Does the Austramathes purpurea Live?
This moth is endemic to New Zealand. This means it naturally lives nowhere else in the world!
Its Home in New Zealand
You can find the Austramathes purpurea moth in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. However, it has not yet been found on Stewart Island.
When Can You See These Moths?
Adult Austramathes purpurea moths are active and can be seen flying from September all the way through April.
What Kind of Place Does This Moth Prefer?
The Austramathes purpurea moth loves to live in native forests. These are forests made up of trees and plants that are originally from New Zealand.
What Do Austramathes purpurea Caterpillars Eat?
The caterpillars of the Austramathes purpurea moth are quite picky eaters! They feed on specific plants found in New Zealand. Their favorite foods are the leaves of the māhoe tree and the narrow-leaved māhoe tree.
How Do Scientists Study This Moth?
Scientists often use different ways to find and study moths. One common method is using light traps, which attract moths at night. However, a scientist named Robert Hoare has suggested that light trapping might not be the best way to find the Austramathes purpurea moth. This means researchers might need to try other methods to learn more about this species.
Images for kids
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Larva (caterpillar) of Austramathes purpurea
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An adult Austramathes purpurea moth, showing its purplish front wings.
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A Māhoe tree, which is a food plant for the Austramathes purpurea caterpillar.
