Barea confusella facts for kids

The Barea confusella is a small, interesting moth. It belongs to a group of moths called Oecophoridae. This moth was first officially described in 1864. A scientist named Francis Walker gave it its name. You can find Barea confusella moths in New Zealand and parts of Australia. This includes Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.

Meet the Barea Confusella Moth

What Does It Look Like?

This moth is quite small. Its wingspan is about 20 millimeters (less than an inch). The front wings have a cool pattern. They are a mix of black and white. The back wings are a soft, silky fawn color. Fawn is a light yellowish-brown color.

Where Does It Live?

The Barea confusella moth lives in two main places. It is found in New Zealand. It also lives in several states in Australia. These states are Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.

What Does It Eat?

The young moths, called larvae, have a special diet. They like to eat dead sapwood. Sapwood is the soft outer part of a tree trunk. It is found just under the bark. The larvae bore into dead trees. They live in tunnels they make under the bark.

They have been seen eating dead wood from certain trees. One is the Eucalyptus pilularis, also known as the blackbutt tree. Another is the Prunus armeniaca, which is the apricot tree. These larvae also eat dead leaves that have fallen. Sometimes, they even eat the tubers of Dahlia plants. Tubers are like underground storage parts of a plant.