Notoreas mechanitis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Notoreas mechanitis |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Notoreas |
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N. mechanitis
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| Binomial name | |
| Notoreas mechanitis (Meyrick, 1883)
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The Notoreas mechanitis is a special type of moth. It belongs to the Geometridae family. This moth is found only in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic to that country.
Contents
Discovering the Notoreas mechanitis
This moth was first described in 1883 by a scientist named Edward Meyrick. He found the moths near Arthur's Pass and Mount Hutt in New Zealand. At first, he called it Pasithea mechanitis.
A year later, in 1884, Meyrick wrote an even more detailed description of the moth. Then, in 1886, he decided to change the group (or genus) the moth belonged to. He moved it into the genus Notoreas, which is why we call it Notoreas mechanitis today.
Later, another scientist, George Hudson, wrote about and drew this moth in his books in 1898 and 1928. In 1986, a review confirmed that this moth still belonged in the Notoreas group. The original example specimen of this moth is kept safe at the Natural History Museum, London.
What Does This Moth Look Like?
The Notoreas mechanitis moth is about 19 to 23 millimeters wide, which is less than an inch. Both male and female moths look similar.
Their front wings are a dark brownish-grey color. They have many tiny yellow speckles. There's a yellow or whitish line near the base of the wing. It has a strong black edge. There are also other white lines and a small black dot on the wing. The edges of the wings have dark grey and white fringes.
The hindwings (back wings) are also dark brownish-grey. They have some yellow near the base. There's a wavy white line in the middle. The patterns on the hindwings are similar to the front wings. Sometimes, the white markings can look more yellow.
Where the Notoreas mechanitis Lives
This moth is only found in New Zealand. Besides Arthur's Pass, where it was first discovered, it has also been seen in other places. These include Mount Arthur, Mount Hutt, Ben Lomond, the Hunter Mountains, Shotover Saddle, and Mount Eostre in the Otago region.
Life Cycle and Behavior
The female Notoreas mechanitis moth lays her eggs inside the flower buds of certain plants. When the tiny caterpillars hatch from the eggs, they immediately start eating the leaves or buds. They hide inside the plant to stay safe from animals that might want to eat them.
As the caterpillars grow bigger, they come out to feed on the fresh new parts of the plant. After they have grown enough, they turn into pupae. They do this in a loose silk case on the ground, usually under their host plant.
These moths are active during the day. They are fast flyers, even though they fly close to the ground. They constantly flutter their wings. This helps them take off very quickly if they need to escape. Adult moths can be seen flying between January and March.
Habitat and Host Plants
The Notoreas mechanitis moth likes to live in high, grassy mountain areas. These are called alpine habitats.
The caterpillars of this moth eat specific plants. Their favorite food is a group of plants called Kelleria. One example of a plant they eat is Kelleria dieffenbachii. These plants are also native to New Zealand.
