Magpie moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Magpie moth |
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The magpie moth, known scientifically as Nyctemera annulata, is a type of moth found in New Zealand. It belongs to the Erebidae family. This moth was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1832. You can find magpie moths all over New Zealand, as they are endemic to the country.
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About the Magpie Moth
The magpie moth is often seen during the day. This is unusual for moths, as most are active at night. Because of its bright colors and daytime activity, people sometimes mistake it for a butterfly.
What the Caterpillar Looks Like
The magpie moth caterpillar is often called a "woolly bear" because it's quite hairy. When it's fully grown, it can be about 3.5 to 3.8 centimeters long. These caterpillars are mostly black. They have red lines along their sides and back, and blue spots. Each part of their body also has tufts of hair.
Sometimes, people confuse these caterpillars with those of the cinnabar moth. Cinnabar moths were brought to New Zealand to help control a weed called ragwort. However, cinnabar caterpillars look different. They have smooth bodies with yellow and black rings.
What the Adult Moth Looks Like
The adult magpie moth has black wings with white patterns. On its front wings, it has two long white spots. The back wings have just one white spot in the middle. The wingspan of an adult moth is usually between 3.5 and 4.5 centimeters.
The body of the moth, including its chest and belly, is black with bright orange bands. Magpie moths are most active from September to June. You can often see them flying over plants in the mornings and evenings.
Family Connections
The magpie moth is closely related to another species called Nyctemera amica. This moth is from Australia but also lives in New Zealand. These two types of moths might even be able to breed together.
Where Magpie Moths Live
The magpie moth is special because it only lives in New Zealand. You can find it on both the North and South Islands, as well as on smaller islands nearby.
Surviving the Cold
Magpie moth caterpillars have an amazing ability. They can actually freeze themselves and still survive! This helps them live in many different parts of New Zealand, even where it gets cold.
Where They Prefer to Live
Magpie moths only live in places where certain plants called Senecio species grow. These plants are their main food source. You'll find them most often in natural areas. But they can also live in towns and cities, as long as there are Senecio plants around, whether they are native or introduced.
Life Cycle of the Magpie Moth
The entire life cycle of the magpie moth takes about 6 to 7 weeks. This depends on how warm the weather is. During winter, the moth stays in its pupa stage.
Eggs and Young Caterpillars
The female moth lays small yellow eggs on the underside of Senecio plant leaves. After about 6 to 7 days, the eggs turn dark and then hatch.
When they are very young, the caterpillars are tiny. They eat the surface of the leaves from underneath. They can also spin silk threads to move to new food sources or to climb back onto a plant if they fall off.
Growing Caterpillars
As the caterpillars get bigger, they start eating the top surface of the leaves. When a caterpillar is fully grown, it's about 3.6 centimeters long. At this point, it looks for a safe spot, like a crack or crevice. Here, it will spin a silk cocoon to get ready for its next stage. The caterpillar even uses some of its own hairs in the cocoon.
The Pupa Stage
Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar changes into a pupa. The cocoon becomes black and shiny, with yellow marks. The pupa stays in the cocoon for about 12 to 35 days. How long it stays there depends a lot on the temperature and how humid it is.
What Magpie Moths Eat
Magpie moths mainly eat plants from the Senecio group. In New Zealand, there are 19 native Senecio species and 14 introduced ones. The magpie moth's diet is quite specific. It doesn't just eat native Senecio plants; it also feeds on the introduced ones.
A Picky Eater
The magpie moth is known as a "monophagous herbivore." This means its diet is limited to a very specific type of plant. While they are native to New Zealand, they have adapted to eat introduced Senecio species. This is important because it means there's more food for them, especially in areas like cities.
One common Senecio plant in New Zealand is the introduced 'ragwort' (Jacobaea vulgaris). This plant is often considered a weed in farms. You can often see magpie moths around farmlands in summer, eating the leaves and flowers of ragwort. They also like to eat Senecio vulgaris (groundsel) and garden cineraria.
Who Hunts the Magpie Moth
Magpie moths have some natural enemies, but they also have ways to protect themselves.
Diseases and Parasites
Magpie moths can get certain natural viruses. Also, a type of parasitic wasp called Echthromorpha intricatoria attacks them. This wasp lays its eggs inside the moth's pupae. When the wasp larvae hatch, they eat the pupa to grow.
Protection from Birds
The bright colors and bitter taste of the magpie moth caterpillar act as a warning to most birds. This means birds usually leave them alone. However, the shining cuckoo is an exception. It will eat the spiny caterpillars. Interestingly, cuckoos often leave the caterpillar's skin behind, only eating the inside parts. If they do swallow the skins, they get rid of them later. Studies have shown that about one-third of the caterpillars found in shining cuckoo stomachs were magpie moths.
Magpie Moths in Māori Culture
The Māori people are thought to have called the magpie moth Mokarakara. They described it as a day-flying moth that was black with white spots.
Māori also had a name for the pupa stage of the moth: tūngoungou. This word means "to nod." It describes how the pupa's body bends back and forth. Sometimes, children would use the pupae in a game. Grandparents would ask their grandchildren to hold the pupa between their fingers and ask it questions, like "Am I a good girl?" The answer depended on which way the pupa wiggled: up meant "yes," and down meant "no."
Scientists have also studied how magpie moths use special chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These chemicals are produced by the Senecio plants as a defense. The moth caterpillars eat these plants and take in the alkaloids. This might be another reason why not many animals want to eat the magpie moth or its caterpillars.
Gallery
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Caterpillar head
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Caterpillar rear
