South Island lichen moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Island lichen moth |
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D. egregia
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| Declana egregia (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875)
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The Declana egregia, often called the South Island lichen moth or zebra lichen moth, is a type of moth. It belongs to the Geometridae family. This moth is special because it is endemic to New Zealand, meaning it lives only there. Two scientists, Baron Cajetan von Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer, first described this species in 1875.
About the South Island Lichen Moth
This moth looks a lot like the North Island lichen moth. However, the South Island lichen moth has fewer and thicker patterns on its wings. You can only find this moth in the South Island and on Stewart Island.
Life Cycle and Habits
The caterpillars of the Declana egregia moth eat plants during the summer. They especially like different kinds of Pseudopanax plants. These include five-finger (Pseudopanax arboreus), mountain five-finger (P. colensoi), and lancewood (P. crassifolius).
The young caterpillars are very good at hiding. They look just like small bird droppings to avoid being seen by predators. As they grow older, they change their disguise. Larger caterpillars can be up to 30 mm long. They look like twigs covered in lichen. They hold themselves stiffly away from the plant using their prolegs to blend in even better.
The moth spends the winter as a pupa. This pupa stage happens on the forest floor. It stays safe inside a loosely-spun cocoon that is covered with dirt.
A Special Moth on Money
The South Island lichen moth is so unique that it appears on the New Zealand $100 note. It is shown alongside a mōhua bird. In the background, you can see a beautiful view of Fiordland National Park.
