Forest semilooper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forest semilooper |
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D. floccosa
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| Declana floccosa Walker, 1858
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The Declana floccosa, also known as the forest semilooper, is a type of moth. It belongs to a moth family called Geometridae. This special moth is only found in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic there. A scientist named Francis Walker first described this moth in 1863.
What the Forest Semilooper Looks Like
The forest semilooper moth has a wingspan of about 27 to 35 millimeters. That's about the length of two to three small paperclips! What's really cool about these moths is how much they can change. Their colors and patterns can be very different from one moth to another.
What the Larvae Eat
The young moths, called larvae (or caterpillars), are not picky eaters. They munch on many different kinds of plants. These plants include both native trees and shrubs from New Zealand, and also trees brought in from other countries.
Some of the trees they like to eat are:
- Pinus radiata and other types of Pine trees
- Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Larix trees
- Eucalyptus trees
They also enjoy native New Zealand plants like Muehlenbeckia australis.
