Batrachedra astricta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Batrachedra astricta |
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| Male holotype specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Batrachedridae
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| Genus: |
Batrachedra
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| Species: |
B. astricta
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| Binomial name | |
| Batrachedra astricta Philpott, 1930
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Batrachedra astricta is a tiny moth that belongs to the family Batrachedridae. This special moth is found only in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic to that country.
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Discovering Batrachedra astricta
This moth was first described by a scientist named Alfred Philpott in 1930. Another scientist, George Hudson, later wrote about and drew pictures of this moth in his 1939 book, A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.
The very first specimen of this moth, called a holotype, was collected by Charles E. Clarke. He found it on December 17, 1921, in a place called Opoho in Otago. Today, this important first specimen is kept safe at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
What Does B. astricta Look Like?
These moths are quite small, usually about 13 to 15 millimeters long. That's about half an inch!
- Head and Body: Their head and the part of their body where the wings attach (thorax) are a whitish-grey color.
- Antennae: Their antennae have rings of yellowish-brown and dark brown.
- Wings: Their front wings are long and narrow, staying about the same width along their length. They are mostly white but have many tiny dark brown scales mixed in. These dark scales sometimes form small spots.
- Distinguishing Features: You can tell B. astricta apart from a similar moth, B. tristicta, because B. astricta does not have a round black spot at the tip of its front wings.
Where Does B. astricta Live?
As mentioned, this moth is only found in New Zealand. The first one was found in Opoho. But it has also been seen in the northern part of New Zealand's North Island.
Life and Habits of B. astricta
You can usually spot these moths flying around in December. Scientists have found that this moth is connected to a special plant called Sporadanthus ferrugineus, which is a threatened species. B. astricta likes to live in wetland areas, which are places with lots of water, like swamps or marshes.
Images for kids
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Batrachedra astricta illustrated by George Hudson
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Image showing Opoho in the background.
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