Batrachedra litterata facts for kids

Batrachedra litterata is a tiny moth that belongs to a group called Batrachedridae. This special moth is found only in New Zealand. This means it is endemic to that country.

Discovering the Moth

First Look at Batrachedra litterata

Scientists first described Batrachedra litterata in 1928. A scientist named Alfred Philpott officially named and described this moth. He used moths that were collected by another person, Dr. A. J. Turner. These moths were found in a place called Greymouth in February.

Where the Original Moth Is Kept

The very first moth specimen used to describe the species is called a holotype. Think of it as the main example of the species. This important specimen is kept safe at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.

Featured in a Book

Later, in 1939, a scientist named George Hudson wrote about this moth. He even included pictures of it in his book. The book was called A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

What Batrachedra litterata Looks Like

This moth is quite small, usually about 10 to 11 millimeters long. That's about the length of a fingernail!

Colors and Patterns

The head and body of the moth are a light, yellowish-white color. Its feelers, called palpi, are also yellowish-white but have brown marks on the outside. The antennae, which are like tiny feelers on its head, are yellowish with brown rings.

Legs and Wings

The moth's legs are mostly yellowish-white. The front legs are a bit darker. The wings are also yellowish-white, but they get darker towards the tips. The very tip of the wing is black. The fringes, which are like tiny hairs around the edge of the wings, are grayish-brown. Around the wing tip, these fringes are yellowish. The back wings are a grayish-brown color.

Where Batrachedra litterata Lives

This moth is found only in New Zealand. Besides Greymouth, where it was first found, it has also been seen in a place called Claverley. Claverley is located in the Canterbury area of New Zealand.

What Batrachedra litterata Eats

Scientists have found that the young moths, called larvae, of Batrachedra litterata like to eat a specific type of plant. They have been seen growing on a fern species called Blechnum chambersii. This fern is their host plant.

Images for kids

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  Illustration of B. litterata.

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  B. chambersii, host species of B. litterata.