Pyrgotis plagiatana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pyrgotis plagiatana |
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P. plagiatana
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| Pyrgotis plagiatana (Walker, 1863)
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The Pyrgotis plagiatana is a type of moth. It belongs to a family of moths called Tortricidae. You can find this moth only in New Zealand.
About the Pyrgotis plagiatana Moth
This moth is a fascinating insect found in New Zealand. It was first described in 1863. Like all moths, it starts its life as a tiny egg. Then it becomes a larva, which is like a caterpillar. Finally, it turns into an adult moth.
What the Moth Looks Like
The Pyrgotis plagiatana moth has a wingspan of about 18 millimeters. This means its wings stretch about 1.8 centimeters from tip to tip. The moth's colors can change a lot from one moth to another. Some are lighter, and some are darker.
Its front wings, called forewings, are usually whitish. They might have a light yellowish color mixed in. This color gets darker closer to the inner edge of the wing. The back wings, or hindwings, are whitish too. They might have a faint yellow tint near the top. You might also see small gray spots on them.
What the Larvae Eat
The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, are not picky eaters. They are known as polyphagous, which means they eat many different kinds of plants. These larvae like to spin webs. They use these webs to pull together leaves and stems from various trees and shrubs. Then they feed on these plants.
They eat plants like Carmichaelia species and Coriaria arborea. They also enjoy Fuchsia excorticata and different types of Hebe plants. Other plants they feed on include Melicope simplex and Metrosideros species. You might also find them on Ozothamnus leptophyllus and Pittosporum tenuifolium. They even eat Tupeia antarctica, Pinus radiata, and Ulex europaeus.
