Scoparia sylvestris facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Scoparia sylvestris
A female Scoparia sylvestris moth specimen at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Scoparia
Species:	S. sylvestris
Binomial name
Scoparia sylvestris Clarke, 1926

The Scoparia sylvestris is a small, unique moth found only in New Zealand. It belongs to the Crambidae family, often called "snout moths" because of their distinctive mouthparts. This moth is an endemic species, meaning it naturally lives in and is native to New Zealand and nowhere else in the world.

Discovering the Scoparia sylvestris Moth

This interesting moth was first officially described in 1926 by a scientist named Charles E. Clarke. When scientists describe a new species, they give it a special scientific name, which for this moth is Scoparia sylvestris.

Where Does This Moth Belong?

Even though the Scoparia sylvestris moth has a name, scientists are still studying exactly where it fits within the larger group of Scoparia moths. Sometimes, when scientists are not completely sure about a species' exact family tree, they might add a special note like "(s.l.)" to its name. This means "in the broad sense," showing that its exact placement is still being looked at.

What Does the Scoparia sylvestris Moth Look Like?

The Scoparia sylvestris moth is quite small. Its wingspan, which is the distance from one wingtip to the other when the wings are spread out, is about 18 millimeters. That's less than an inch!

Wings and Colors

The front wings of this moth are a dark green color. They also have tiny white specks scattered across them, making them look a bit frosted or dusted with white. The back wings are a dark brownish-gray color, and they get even darker towards their outer edges.

When Can You See Them?

Adult Scoparia sylvestris moths have been seen flying around in January. This suggests that they are active during the summer months in New Zealand.