Opogona aurisquamosa facts for kids

The Opogona aurisquamosa is a small moth that belongs to the Tineidae family. It is sometimes called the golden-scaled moth because of its shiny wings. This moth lives in many places across the Pacific Ocean. You can find it on islands like Easter Island, the Marquesas, Fiji, and Hawaii. Scientists think it might have traveled with early Polynesian explorers or later European settlers.

What the Adult Moth Looks Like

Adult Opogona aurisquamosa moths are quite pretty. Their bodies are a shiny yellowish-bronze color. Their front wings often have beautiful violet or purplish metallic reflections. These reflections make them look shimmery. The tips of their wings are also a bit bent downwards.

The Moth's Life Cycle

The Larva Stage

The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, are scavengers. This means they eat dead or decaying materials. They have been found eating many different things. These include old wood, dead leaves, and even rotten fruits. They also eat parts of plants like banana, bamboo, and sugarcane. Some larvae have been found in dry cow dung.

When fully grown, a larva is about 15 to 18 millimeters long. That's about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch. They are a dull, dirty white color.

The Pupa Stage

After the larva grows enough, it changes into a pupa. The pupa is the resting stage before it becomes an adult moth. It is about 6 to 6.5 millimeters long. This is roughly a quarter of an inch. The pupa is light brown.

The pupa forms a small, compact cocoon. It makes this cocoon right where it was feeding. The cocoon is about 8 millimeters long. It is covered with bits of leftover food and other debris. This helps to hide it from predators.