Platyptilia hokowhitalis facts for kids
Platyptilia hokowhitalis is a small moth that belongs to the family Pterophoridae. These moths are sometimes called plume moths because their wings look like feathers. This special moth lives only in New Zealand and nowhere else in the world. Scientists have classified it as "Data Deficient," meaning they need more information to know how well it's doing.
Quick facts for kids Platyptilia hokowhitalis |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Pterophoridae
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| Genus: |
Platyptilia
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| Species: |
P. hokowhitalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Platyptilia hokowhitalis Hudson, 1939
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Contents
Discovery and Naming
This moth was first officially described in 1939 by a scientist named George Hudson. He also drew pictures of it. Hudson used a moth specimen he found on November 10, 1889. He collected it in a place called Hokowhitu Bush, which is now part of Palmerston North.
Before 1939, Hudson had talked about this moth in 1928. However, he had mistakenly called it by a different name, Platyptilia celidota. The original specimen Hudson used to describe the species is called the holotype. It is kept safe at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa.
What It Looks Like
The Platyptilia hokowhitalis moth has a wingspan of about 19 millimeters (about three-quarters of an inch). Its front wings are a light brownish-yellow color. They have some faint darker marks along the front edge. There is a clear black mark near the middle of the wing, where it splits.
The edges of the wings have brownish-yellow hairs, called cilia. There are also small tufts of blackish scales on the inner parts of the wing splits. The back wings and their cilia are lighter and a bit grayer than the front wings. They also have noticeable blackish scale tufts on the third "plume" or feather-like part.
Where It Lives
This moth is endemic to New Zealand. This means it is found naturally only in New Zealand and nowhere else. You can find this species in the Wellington, Whanganui, and Taranaki regions. It has also been seen in a place called Meremere Bush.
Its Home
The first Platyptilia hokowhitalis moth ever studied was caught in a forest. This forest area is now a suburb of Palmerston North. This shows that the moth lives in forest habitats.
What It Eats
The young moths, called larvae, of Platyptilia hokowhitalis eat a type of shrubby plant. This plant belongs to the Euphrasia genus.
Conservation Status
Scientists have given Platyptilia hokowhitalis a "Data Deficient" conservation status. This classification is part of the New Zealand Threat Classification System. "Data Deficient" means that there isn't enough information about the moth's population. More research is needed to understand if it is thriving or if it is at risk.
