Hierodoris extensilis facts for kids

Hierodoris extensilis is a type of moth that belongs to the Oecophoridae family. This moth is found only in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic to that country. The New Zealand Department of Conservation has listed this species as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon." This means it's not found in many places and needs protection.

About This Moth

How Hierodoris extensilis Was Discovered

This moth was first officially described in 2012 by a scientist named Robert J. B. Hoare. He originally gave it the name Heliostibes extensilis. The main example specimen, called the holotype, is kept safe at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.

What Hierodoris extensilis Looks Like

The H. extensilis moth is quite small. The male moths have a wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other) of about 13 to 15.5 millimeters. Female moths are a bit larger, with a wingspan of 12 to 17.5 millimeters.

This moth looks a lot like some of its close relatives, such as Hierodoris frigida, H. polita, and H. gerontion. However, there are some ways to tell them apart:

• H. extensilis has a whitish color at the base of its back wings. This helps to tell it apart from H. frigida and H. polita.
• The outer part of its labial palpi (which are like small feelers near its mouth) are covered in white scales.
• Unlike H. polita, H. extensilis does not have a white stripe across its front wings.
• Its front wings have shiny, lead-colored scales and dark fringes (the hairs along the edge of the wing).
• It does not have the curved white stripe near the base of the wing that H. gerontion has.

A Special Feature of Female Moths

Female H. extensilis moths have a very long, telescope-like ovipositor. This is a special tube they use to lay their eggs. Scientists think this long ovipositor helps the females lay their eggs deep under the sand, close to the roots of plants that the young moths (larvae) might eat.

Where Hierodoris extensilis Lives

This moth is only found in New Zealand. Specifically, it has only been collected in the Fiordland region. It has been seen on Mount Titiroa and Mount Burns, which are both in Fiordland.

When Hierodoris extensilis Is Active

Scientists have collected H. extensilis moths in early February. This suggests that they are active during that time of year.

What Kind of Places Hierodoris extensilis Prefers

This moth lives in special places like granite sand plains and gravel fields. These are open areas with sandy or rocky ground. Even though we know where the adult moths live, scientists still don't know what plants the larvae (caterpillars) of this species eat.

Why Hierodoris extensilis Needs Protection

The H. extensilis moth is considered "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. This means that it is not found in many places naturally, and its population might be small. Because of this, it is important to protect its habitat to make sure this unique New Zealand moth continues to survive.

Images for kids

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  Shore of Lake Manapouri with Mt Titiroa, where this moth was first found, in the background.