Planotortrix avicenniae facts for kids

The Planotortrix avicenniae is a special kind of moth. It belongs to a group of moths called Tortricidae. This moth is found only in New Zealand, which means it is endemic there. You can find it in the North Island. Its young, called larvae, love to eat the leaves of mangrove trees.

About the Planotortrix avicenniae Moth

This moth was first officially described in 1990 by a scientist named John S. Dugdale. The name avicenniae comes from the Avicennia tree. This is the type of mangrove tree that the moth's larvae eat.

What the Moth Looks Like

Adult Planotortrix avicenniae moths are usually a dark, charcoal brown color. They might have a faint pattern of lighter, ash-colored or yellowish scales.

It can be tricky to tell the female P. avicenniae apart from other similar moths. These include the females of P. excessana and Planotortrix octo.

However, the young moths, or larvae, of P. avicenniae are quite unique. Unlike the larvae of P. excessana and P. octo, which have green heads and bodies, P. avicenniae larvae are grey-green with a brownish head. This makes them easier to identify!

Where the Moth Lives

The Planotortrix avicenniae moth is found only in New Zealand. It has been seen in several parts of the North Island. These areas include Northland, Auckland, Waikato, the Coromandel, and the Bay of Plenty.

Life Cycle and Habitat

The larvae of this moth are quite interesting. They spin silk to web together the leaves of their host plant. Then, they feed on these leaves.

These larvae are very picky eaters! They only feed on one specific type of tree. This tree is the mangrove species known as Avicennia marina. This means the moth's survival depends entirely on these special mangrove forests.