Ring fern spore-eater facts for kids

The Batrachedra filicicola is a tiny moth that belongs to the Batrachedridae family. It is special because it is found only in New Zealand. This means it is endemic to that country.

What is Batrachedra filicicola?

This small moth was first officially described in 1917 by a scientist named Edward Meyrick. He used samples collected by George Hudson in a place called Karori in November. George Hudson found these moths living on tree-ferns. Later, George Hudson wrote about and drew this moth in his 1928 book, The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. The original sample, called a lectotype specimen, is kept safe at the Natural History Museum, London.

How to Describe This Moth

This moth is quite small, only about 8 millimeters long. Its head and body are a shiny, bronze-white color. Its wings are narrow and pointed, with a violet-grey color that gets darker towards the tip. The very tip of the wing is blackish. The tiny hairs on the edges of its wings, called cilia, are grey.

Where Does This Moth Live?

As mentioned, B. filicicola is found only in New Zealand. It has been seen in areas like Wellington and the Hawkes Bay.

Life and Habits of the Moth

You can usually spot this moth flying around in November and December. Like many moths, it is attracted to lights at night. Scientists have also found it during the day by gently sweeping the fronds (leaves) of its favorite plant, the silver fern (Cyathea dealbata). This moth is known to be a fast runner and can make quick, short flights.

What Does the Moth Eat?

The young moths, called larvae, of Batrachedra filicicola have a very specific diet. They feed on the tiny spores found on the fronds of the silver fern (Cyathea dealbata).

Images for kids

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  This is the original specimen of the Batrachedra filicicola moth that scientists used to describe the species.