Small lichen moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small lichen moth |
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Oecophoridae
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I. peroneanella
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| Izatha peroneanella (Walker, 1864)
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The Izatha peroneanella, often called the small lichen moth or the green lichen tuft, is a type of moth. It belongs to the Oecophoridae family. This moth is special because it is found only in New Zealand. You can find it all over the North Island, except for the very top part called the Aupouri Peninsula.
Contents
What Does the Small Lichen Moth Look Like?
The small lichen moth has a unique appearance. Its wingspan (how wide its wings are when spread out) is about 15 to 24.5 millimeters for male moths. Female moths are a bit larger, with a wingspan of 17 to 29.5 millimeters.
How Does It Camouflage?
These moths have pale green front wings. They also have small patches of raised black scales on their wings. These black patches help the moth blend in perfectly when it rests on lichens. This is a great way for them to hide from predators!
Can Their Colors Change?
Yes, the color of this moth can vary. Sometimes, the pale green front wings might be white instead. In other cases, the black tufts (the raised patches) can be brown. This variation helps them adapt to different environments.
Where Do Small Lichen Moths Live?
This moth is an endemic species, which means it naturally lives only in New Zealand. It is found across the North Island, but not in the northernmost area known as the Aupouri Peninsula.
What is Their Preferred Habitat?
You can often find the small lichen moth living near native forests. These forests provide the right conditions and food sources for them to thrive.
The Life Cycle and Behavior of the Small Lichen Moth
The small lichen moth goes through different stages in its life, just like other insects.
What Do Larvae Do?
The young moths, called larvae, can grow to be about 16 millimeters long. They are quite busy! These larvae dig tunnels into dead wood. They prefer to bore into standing dead trees rather than wood that has fallen to the forest floor.
When Do They Become Adults?
The larvae turn into pupae (the stage before becoming an adult moth) around early November. There is only one generation of these moths each year. Adult moths can be seen flying from September all the way to early April. They are often attracted to lights at night.
What Do Larvae Eat?
The larvae of the small lichen moth feed on the dead wood of many different kinds of plants. Some of the plants they have been seen eating include:
- Alseuosmia species
- Carpodetus serratus
- Coprosma grandifolia
- Coriaria arborea
- Fuchsia excorticata
- Nestegis species
- Pseudopanax arboreus
- Ripogonum scandens
- Sophora species
- Wisteria species
Images for kids
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A close-up of the green lichen tuft moth, showing its camouflage colors.
