Hierodoris huia facts for kids

The Huia moth (scientific name: Hierodoris huia) is a special type of moth. It belongs to a group of moths called Oecophoridae. This moth is found only in New Zealand, which means it is endemic there. The New Zealand Department of Conservation says this moth is "Data Deficient." This means we don't have enough information about it to know if it's in danger or not.

How Was the Huia Moth Discovered?

A scientist named Robert R. J. Hoare first officially described this moth in 2005. But it was actually found much earlier! C. R. Thomas first discovered the species in January 1953.

The main specimen used to describe the species, called the holotype, was collected by P. A. Maddison. This happened on January 28, 1980, in a place called Titirangi. This important specimen is now kept at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. Before it got its official name, people sometimes called it Coridomorpha 'long palpi'.

The moth was named huia for two reasons. First, it honors the huia bird, which is now extinct. Second, it's named after Huia Road in Titirangi, where the main specimen was found.

What Does the Huia Moth Look Like?

The Huia moth has some unique features that help scientists identify it.

• It has very tiny third segments on its labial palps. These are like small feelers near its mouth.
• Its antennae have a white patch near the tip.
• Its front wings have shiny, curled scales that look like metallic patches.

These features are only found on the Huia moth. Also, male and female Huia moths look a bit different. This is called sexual dimorphism. The female moths have much longer labial palps than the males.

Where Does the Huia Moth Live?

This moth is endemic to New Zealand, meaning it's found nowhere else in the world. So far, scientists have only found it in two spots in Titirangi. These two spots are only about 1 to 2 kilometers apart.

What Do We Know About Its Life?

Scientists don't know much about the life of the Huia moth yet. For example, no one has found its larvae (the caterpillar stage) yet.

Adult Huia moths have been seen flying in January. Even though these moths are attracted to lights at night, scientists think they might actually be diurnal. This means they are active during the day, not just at night. This idea comes from how they act when caught in light traps.

Where Does It Live and What Does It Eat?

We still don't know what the larvae of the Huia moth eat. This is called their host species.

Both places where the Huia moth has been found are near forest areas. Scientists believe that H. huia probably lives high up in the forest canopy, which is the top layer of trees.

Is the Huia Moth in Danger?

The Huia moth has a "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. This means scientists don't have enough information to know if the moth's population is healthy or if it's at risk of disappearing. More research is needed to understand its true conservation needs.

Images for kids

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  Landscape in Titirangi, where the Huia moth was found.