White-spotted midget facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-spotted midget |
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Eutricopis
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E. nexilis
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| Eutricopis nexilis Morrison, 1875
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The white-spotted midget (scientific name: Eutricopis nexilis) is a small, interesting moth. It belongs to a group of moths called Noctuidae, which are often known as "owlet moths." This particular moth was first discovered and named by a scientist named Herbert Knowles Morrison way back in 1875.
Meet the White-Spotted Midget Moth
This section will help you learn more about this tiny moth, from what it looks like to where it lives!
Appearance and Size
The white-spotted midget moth is quite small. Its wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other when the wings are spread out) is about 18 to 20 millimeters. That's less than an inch! Imagine a moth that can fit on your thumbnail.
Where it Lives
This moth can be found across a large part of North America. It lives in places like Nova Scotia and New England in the east. From there, it spreads west across southern Canada, reaching as far as southern Vancouver Island. You can also find it north in Yukon and south in the mountains of California and Colorado.
Life Cycle and Diet
Adult white-spotted midget moths are usually seen flying around from May to July. During this time, they are busy laying eggs. When the eggs hatch, tiny moth babies called larvae (which are like caterpillars) emerge. These larvae have a special diet: they love to munch on plants from the Antennaria species. These plants are sometimes called "pussytoes."
