Eudonia oreas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eudonia oreas |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Eudonia
|
| Species: |
E. oreas
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eudonia oreas (Meyrick, 1884)
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Meet the Eudonia oreas, a fascinating little moth that belongs to the Crambidae family. This moth was first described by a scientist named Edward Meyrick in 1884. What makes this moth special is that it is endemic to New Zealand. This means it is found naturally only in New Zealand and nowhere else in the world!
Contents
About the Eudonia Oreas Moth
The Eudonia oreas is a type of moth, which is an insect closely related to butterflies. Moths are known for their fuzzy bodies and wings, and they are usually active at night. This particular moth is part of a large group called Crambidae, often known as "grass moths" or "snout moths."
What Does It Look Like?
The Eudonia oreas is a small moth. Its wingspan, which is the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other when spread out, is about 22 millimeters. That's roughly the length of a small button!
Its front wings, called forewings, are mostly white. They have a mix of light grey and tiny dark specks, which scientists call "irrorated with dark fuscous." "Fuscous" is just a fancy word for a brownish-grey color. You might also spot some faint dark spots near the base of these wings. The wings have two white lines that are outlined with dark brownish-grey. The back wings, or hindwings, are a lighter grey-white color, with the very tip being a bit darker.
Where Does It Live?
As mentioned, the Eudonia oreas moth is endemic to New Zealand. This means it has evolved over a long time to live specifically in the unique environments found there. Being endemic makes a species very special and important to protect, as it can't be found anywhere else if its habitat in New Zealand is threatened.
When Can You See It?
Adult Eudonia oreas moths have been seen flying during the month of December. This is when they are most active, flying around and looking for mates to lay eggs.
