Scoparia caliginosa facts for kids
Scoparia caliginosa is a small moth that belongs to the Crambidae family. This special moth can only be found in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic to that country. It's a unique part of New Zealand's amazing wildlife!
Quick facts for kids Scoparia caliginosa |
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Scoparia
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S. caliginosa
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| Scoparia caliginosa Philpott, 1918
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Understanding the Scoparia caliginosa Moth
How Scientists Name and Classify This Moth
Scientists use a system called Taxonomy to name and group living things. This helps us understand how different species are related.
This moth was first described by a scientist named Alfred Philpott in 1918. He gave it the name Scoparia caliginosa. However, some scientists are not completely sure if it fits perfectly into the Scoparia group. Because of this, you might sometimes see it called Scoparia (s.l.) caliginosa. The "s.l." means "in the broader sense," showing there's still a little bit of discussion about its exact family tree.
What Does the Scoparia caliginosa Moth Look Like?
The Scoparia caliginosa moth is quite small. Its wingspan, which is the distance from one wingtip to the other when the wings are spread out, is about 17 millimeters. That's less than an inch!
Let's look at its colors:
- Its front wings, called the forewings, are a reddish-brown color. They have tiny white speckles, especially on the first three-quarters of the wing.
- There's a short brown band that starts near the base of the wing.
- The first line on the wing is lighter in color and has a reddish-brown edge behind it.
- The second line is whitish, with a reddish-brown edge in front of it.
- The back wings, or hindwings, are a smoky gray color. They get darker towards the very end.
