Cryptolechia rhodobapta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cryptolechia rhodobapta
Painting of Cryptolechia rhodobapta by George Hudson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Depressariidae
Genus:	Cryptolechia
Species:	C. rhodobapta
Binomial name
Cryptolechia rhodobapta Meyrick, 1923

Cryptolechia rhodobapta is a type of moth that belongs to a family called Depressariidae. This moth is special because it is found only in New Zealand, meaning it's endemic there.

Discovering the Cryptolechia rhodobapta Moth

Have you ever wondered how scientists name and classify animals? This is called taxonomy.

• A scientist named Edward Meyrick first described the Cryptolechia rhodobapta moth in 1923. He studied a male moth he found in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand.
• Later, in 1928, another scientist named George Hudson included this moth in his book, The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. He even drew pictures of it!
• Scientists sometimes aren't completely sure where a species fits in the big family tree of life. For this moth, its exact place in the Cryptolechia group is still being studied.
• The original moth specimen that Edward Meyrick used to describe the species is called a holotype. This important specimen is kept safe at the Natural History Museum, London.

What Does the Cryptolechia rhodobapta Moth Look Like?

This moth is quite small, with a wingspan of about 19 millimeters (that's less than an inch!).

• Its front wings are a pretty mix of rosy-lilac and brownish colors.
• The edge of the wing near its body is a reddish-brown color, like rust.
• It has small, dark spots on its wings that are hard to see. These spots are called stigmata.
• The back wings of the moth are a light grey color.

Where Does the Cryptolechia rhodobapta Moth Live?

This moth is found only in New Zealand. This means it is an endemic species, unique to that country.