Hierodoris sesioides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hierodoris sesioides |
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Oecophoridae
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H. sesioides
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| Hierodoris sesioides Hoare, 2005
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Hierodoris sesioides is a special kind of moth that belongs to the Oecophoridae family. You can only find this moth in New Zealand, which means it's endemic there. The Department of Conservation says we don't have enough information about this moth, so it's listed as "Data Deficient."
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Discovering Hierodoris sesioides
This moth was first officially described by a scientist named Robert R. J. Hoare in 2005. Before that, people sometimes called it Hierodoris 'clear wing'.
How it Got its Name
The name sesioides comes from two parts. "Sesia" is the name of another group of moths known as clearwing moths. The Greek word 'eides' means "likeness." So, sesioides means "like a Sesia moth," because it looks similar to those clearwing moths.
First Specimen Found
The very first male moth of this species, called a holotype, was grown from tiny larvae. These larvae were found in Esk State Forest on March 4, 1964, by H. Auld. This important first specimen is now kept safely at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.
What H. sesioides Looks Like
This moth has a very thin front wing. Its back wing is mostly white and see-through, with a clear black edge.
Where This Moth Lives
H. sesioides is endemic to New Zealand. This means it naturally lives only in New Zealand and nowhere else in the world. So far, scientists have only found it in one place: Hawkes Bay.
Life and Habits
Scientists don't know much about the daily life and habits of this particular moth. There's still a lot to learn about how it lives and behaves!
What H. sesioides Larvae Eat
The young moths, called larvae, eat a special kind of tree. Their favorite food is the kowhai tree, known scientifically as Sophora tetraptera. These larvae live inside the woody parts of the kowhai tree, feeding on the stems. They create lumpy growths called galls as they eat.
Protecting H. sesioides
The New Zealand Threat Classification System helps scientists understand how safe different species are. This moth is currently listed as "Data Deficient." This means we don't have enough information to know if it's rare or common. More research is needed to figure out how to best protect it.
