Kaitorete jumper facts for kids

Kiwaia jeanae, also known as the Kaitorete jumper or mat daisy jumper, is a small moth found only in New Zealand. It belongs to a group of moths called Gelechiidae. This special moth is considered "At Risk" by the Department of Conservation. Both male and female moths of this species have very short wings, which means they can't fly well.

Discovering the Kaitorete Jumper

A scientist named Alfred Philpott first described this moth in 1930. He studied a moth found at Birdling's Flat in Canterbury, New Zealand. Another scientist, George Hudson, also wrote about this moth in 1939. The moth is named after Jean Lindsay, who was the first person to collect a specimen of this species. The original specimen, called a holotype, is kept at the Canterbury Museum.

What Does the Kaitorete Jumper Look Like?

This moth is quite small, usually about 8 millimeters long. Its head is a shiny creamy white color. The antennae are brownish-black. The body is mostly grey and yellowish-brown.

Its front wings are long and narrow. They are a mix of yellowish-white and grey. You might see a dark, triangle-shaped spot and a round black spot on these wings. The tips of the wings are black.

The hind wings of this moth are very unusual. They are much smaller than the front wings, only about a quarter of their length. These tiny hind wings are covered in long, fine, yellowish-white hairs. Scientists think these hairs on the male moths might help release special scents called pheromones. These scents would help attract female moths.

Both male and female Kaitorete jumper moths have these very short wings. This means they are not good at flying. It's quite rare for male moths to have such small wings.

Where Does the Kaitorete Jumper Live?

This moth is found only in New Zealand. It lives in the North and Mid Canterbury regions. Besides Birdling's Flat, it has also been seen at Kaitorete Spit. You can also find it near Amberley, at Amberley beach and Leithfield beach.

How Does the Kaitorete Jumper Behave?

Scientists don't know much about the daily life of this moth. One very interesting thing about adult Kaitorete jumper moths is that they can jump! They jump in a way that reminds people of fleas. Adult moths have been seen from January to mid-April.

What About Its Home and Food?

The Kaitorete jumper moth likes to live in special places. It is found on active sand dunes or in areas with shingle (small stones). These places are often covered with cushion plants.

The young moths, called larvae, eat Raoulia mats. These are a type of cushion plant. Scientists believe the larvae might also be detritivorous. This means they might eat dead plant material.

Protecting This Special Moth

The Kaitorete jumper moth is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" in New Zealand. This means it's not very common and needs protection.

This moth is at risk because its home is being damaged. Some problems include:

• Shingle removal: People sometimes remove shingle for building, which destroys the moth's habitat.
• Stock trampling: Farm animals walking over the land can damage the plants where the moths live.
• Weed invasion: New plants (weeds) can take over the moth's habitat.
• Recreational vehicles: Vehicles like quad bikes can damage the delicate environment.
• Housing development: Building new homes can destroy the moth's natural areas.
• Predators: Other animals might hunt and eat the moths.