Carposina sarcanthes facts for kids

Carposina sarcanthes is a small, unique moth found only in New Zealand. It belongs to a group of moths called Carposinidae. This moth is special because it lives nowhere else in the world!

Meet the Carposina Sarcanthes Moth

Where Does This Moth Live?

The Carposina sarcanthes moth is an endemic species. This means it naturally lives only in New Zealand. You won't find it flying around in other countries. It's a true native of the New Zealand landscape.

What Does This Moth Look Like?

This moth is quite small. Its wingspan is about 15 millimeters (which is less than an inch). That's roughly the size of a small fingernail!

Here are some details about its appearance:

• Head: The moth's head is mostly white. It might have a few tiny grey spots.
• Body: Its main body, called the thorax, is grey. It has a cool curved white line in the middle. The part of its body behind the wings, called the abdomen, is a pale pinkish-orange color.
• Forewings: These are the front wings. They are long and a bit narrow. They are mostly pale grey. They have some white mixed in and tiny dark speckles. You might also see a small blackish spot near the base of the wing. There are also tiny blackish dots along the edge and two small grey spots circled with white.
• Hindwings: These are the back wings. They are a whitish-grey color. The part closest to the moth's body has a soft pinkish-orange tint.

Who Discovered This Moth?

The Carposina sarcanthes moth was first described in 1918. It was named by a scientist named Edward Meyrick. He was an expert in moths and butterflies.