Dasyuris partheniata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dasyuris partheniata |
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Larentiinae
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| Genus: |
Dasyuris
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D. partheniata
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| Binomial name | |
| Dasyuris partheniata Guenée, 1868
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Dasyuris partheniata is a special kind of moth that belongs to the Geometridae family. It's found only in New Zealand, which means it's endemic there. Sadly, this moth is currently listed as "At Risk, Declining" by the Department of Conservation. This means its numbers are going down, and it needs our help!
Contents
Discovering the Moth
This moth was first described by a scientist named Achille Guenée in 1868. He studied a specimen collected by Richard William Fereday in the Canterbury area of New Zealand.
Later, another scientist, George Vernon Hudson, wrote more about this moth in 1898 and 1928. He mentioned that Fereday's specimens were found near Mount Hutt. The original specimen, called the holotype, is kept safe at the Natural History Museum, London.
What Does This Moth Look Like?
This moth goes through different stages in its life, just like a butterfly.
Eggs
The eggs of the Dasyuris partheniata moth are yellowish-white. They are shaped like an oval and have cool patterns on their surface, like tiny hexagons.
Larvae (Caterpillars)
When the eggs hatch, tiny caterpillars, called larvae, appear. They are pale yellow-brown on their backs and a dull yellowish-brown on their sides. These larvae are very thin and have 16 legs.
They are mostly active at night. If they feel unsafe, they quickly drop into the middle of the plant they are eating. Scientists have even seen them shaking a plant blade to scare away a wasp!
Pupae
After growing, the larva turns into a pupa. This stage is like a resting period before it becomes an adult moth. The pupa is about 1.25 cm long. It starts as a pale yellow color, then changes to golden, and finally to a dark brown.
Adult Moths
Adult Dasyuris partheniata moths are quite beautiful. Their wings can spread to about 2.8 cm wide.
- Fore-wings: These are bright orange-yellow. They have black and dull green speckles near the body. There are also dark brown bands across the wings. The edges of the wings are broadly bordered with dark brown.
- Hind-wings: These are bright orange. They have a speckled area near the body with a curved black line. There's also a broken dark brown line further out. The edges are narrowly bordered with a wavy dark brown line.
- Cilia: These are the tiny hairs on the edges of all the wings. They are yellow with black stripes.
These adult moths fly during the day, usually from October to March.
Where Do They Live?
Dasyuris partheniata moths are found only in New Zealand. They have been seen in many different places, from sea level up to about 1500 meters high.
Some of the places they live include:
- Waiouru
- The Tararua Range
- Wellington
- Mount Arthur
- Mount Hutt
- Arthur's Pass National Park
- Homer
- Mount Cook
- Dunedin
- Lake Wakatipu
- The Hump Ridge
Their Home and Food
These moths like to live in open, grassy areas. In Wellington, they prefer coastal cliffs. Near Mount Hutt, they have been found living in tussock grass, which is a type of clumpy grass.
The caterpillars of this moth eat plants from the genus Aciphylla. One specific plant they like is Aciphylla subflabellata.
Why Are They "At Risk"?
The Dasyuris partheniata moth is classified as "At Risk, Declining" under the New Zealand Threat Classification system. This means their population numbers are going down. It's important to protect their habitats and understand more about them to help them survive.
