Kiwaia brontophora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kiwaia brontophora |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Phylum: | |
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| Order: | |
| Family: |
Gelechiidae
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| Genus: |
Kiwaia
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| Species: |
K. brontophora
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| Binomial name | |
| Kiwaia brontophora (Meyrick, 1885)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Kiwaia brontophora is a small and interesting type of moth. It belongs to a family of moths called Gelechiidae. This particular moth was first described by a scientist named Edward Meyrick way back in 1885. You can only find the Kiwaia brontophora moth in New Zealand, which means it's special to that country!
Contents
What Does the Kiwaia Brontophora Moth Look Like?
This moth is quite small. Its wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other when the wings are spread out) is usually around 11 millimeters. That's about the length of a small fingernail!
Forewings: A Closer Look
The front wings, called forewings, have a whitish-yellow color. They are lightly sprinkled with brownish-yellow specks. Imagine tiny dots of color all over them!
- Darker Top Half: The top half of the forewing, near the front edge, is covered in many tiny black specks. This dark area goes from the base of the wing all the way to the middle.
- Special Markings: There's a lighter, uneven bar that cuts across this dark area about a quarter of the way from the wing's base. Towards the back, the dark area fades out near the front edge of the wing.
- Black Spots: You can also spot five uneven black marks on the disc (the central part) of the wing.
- The first spot is right in the middle.
- The second is a bit in front of the first, on a fold in the wing, and it blends into the dark area near the front edge.
- The third spot is below the first and is connected to it by a cloudy black area.
- The fourth spot is larger and is located about two-thirds of the way along the wing.
- The fifth spot is just beyond the fourth.
Hindwings: Simple and Pale
The back wings, known as hindwings, are much simpler. They are a plain whitish-grey color.
Where Does This Moth Live?
The Kiwaia brontophora moth is native to New Zealand. This means it naturally lives there and nowhere else in the world! New Zealand is famous for its unique plants and animals, and this moth is one of them. Moths often play important roles in their ecosystems, like being a food source for other animals.
