Golden brown fern moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden brown fern moth |
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Musotima
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M. nitidalis
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| Musotima nitidalis (Walker, 1866)
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The Musotima nitidalis is a type of moth. It belongs to a group of moths called Crambidae. A scientist named Francis Walker first described it in 1866. This moth originally comes from Australia and New Zealand. It was later found in Europe in 2009.
About the Musotima Nitidalis Moth
Adult Musotima nitidalis moths are mostly brown. They have cool white patterns on their front wings, which are outlined in black.
Life Cycle and What They Eat
The young moths, called larvae (or caterpillars), eat the leaves of different types of ferns. They especially like ferns like Adiantum aethiopicum and Pteridium esculentum. These larvae live in a thin web they spin on the underside of fern leaves.
The larvae are pale green and have skin that you can almost see through. When it's time to change into an adult moth, the larva becomes a pupa. This happens inside a folded fern leaf, held together by white silk threads.
Where Musotima Nitidalis Moths Live
This moth is found in New Zealand and many parts of Australia. This includes areas like Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
In 2009, the moth was discovered in Dorset, England. Since then, it has spread across southern England, from Dorset all the way to Essex. Larvae have also been found in England. Scientists think these moths might have arrived in England by accident, possibly on tree ferns that were brought in from other countries.
