Heterocrossa ignobilis facts for kids

Heterocrossa ignobilis is a type of small moth. It belongs to a group of moths called the Carposinidae family. This special moth is found only in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic to that country.

About This Moth

This moth was first described by a scientist named Alfred Philpott in 1930. He found the moth specimens near Mount Cook. When he first described it, he gave it the name Carposina ignobilis.

Later, in 1988, another scientist named Dugdale moved this moth to a different group, or genus, called Heterocrossa. This happened because scientists studied the moths more closely. The original moth specimen that Philpott used is kept safe at the Canterbury Museum.

What Does It Look Like?

The Heterocrossa ignobilis moth is quite small. Its wingspan is about 16 millimeters, which is less than an inch.

Its head, a part of its mouth called the palpi, and its chest area (thorax) are mostly grey with some brown mixed in. The main body part (abdomen) is a yellowish-brown color. Its front wings are narrow and greyish-yellow. They are also covered with many tiny dark brown specks. The back wings of the moth are a shiny grey color.

Where Does It Live?

This moth is found only in New Zealand. It is an endemic species, which means it naturally lives nowhere else in the world. Scientists have found this moth in the Canterbury area of New Zealand.

Life and Habits

Scientists have observed this moth flying around in January. This means that January is the time of year when these moths are active and can be seen flying.