Scythris niphozela facts for kids

Scythris niphozela is a small moth that belongs to a group called Scythrididae. This special moth only lives in New Zealand. It's considered "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation, which means it's not very common and needs some protection.

Discovering the Moth

A scientist named Edward Meyrick first described this moth in 1931. He used moths found by Stewart Lindsay at a place called Birding's Flat. Another scientist, George Hudson, wrote about and drew this moth in his book in 1939. The original moth specimen, called the holotype, is kept at the Canterbury Museum.

What Does It Look Like?

This moth is about 9 to 10 millimeters long. Its head, mouthparts (palpi), and body (thorax) are dark grey. They can also have some white mixed in. The main part of its body (abdomen) looks shiny and whitish-grey.

Its front wings are long and pointed. They are dark grey, but often have a lot of white on them. There are some dark, blurry blackish marks on the wings. The edges of the wings have grey hairs, which can also be whitish around the tips. The back wings are a bronze-grey-white color.

Where Does It Live?

This moth is found only in New Zealand. It was first discovered at Birding's Flat, which is part of Kaitorete Spit. It has also been seen in Central Otago, but scientists believe it mainly lives in the Kaitorete Spit area. This moth prefers to live in the sandy areas near the coast, especially on the gravel barrier there.

Its Life and What It Eats

You can usually see these moths flying around from October to December. The young moths, called larvae, have been found eating a plant called Carmichaelia appressa. This plant is also special because it only grows in New Zealand, especially at Kaitorete Spit.