Scoparia harpalea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scoparia harpalea |
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Scoparia
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S. harpalea
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| Scoparia harpalea (Meyrick, 1884)
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Scoparia harpalea is a small moth that lives only in New Zealand. It belongs to a group of moths called Crambidae. This moth is special because it is endemic to New Zealand, meaning it's found nowhere else in the world!
How Scientists Named This Moth
Scientists give special names to all living things. This helps everyone know exactly which animal or plant they are talking about. In 1884, a scientist named Edward Meyrick first named this moth Xeroscopa harpalea. He wrote a detailed description of it in 1885.
Later, in 1913, Meyrick decided to change the moth's group name to Scoparia. Another scientist, George Vernon Hudson, agreed with this change in 1928. So, the moth's official scientific name became Scoparia harpalea.
What Does This Moth Look Like?
This moth has a wingspan of about 24 millimeters (that's about the size of a large coin). Its front wings are mostly white, but they have tiny specks of grayish-yellow color. You can also see dark lines on the wings where the veins are.
The back wings of the moth are a very light grayish-yellow. They have a slightly darker gray line near the middle and at the tips. Adult Scoparia harpalea moths have been seen flying around in January.
