Tinea accusatrix facts for kids

The Tinea accusatrix is a tiny moth that belongs to the Tineidae family. It was first described by a scientist named Edward Meyrick in 1916. This special moth is found only in New Zealand, meaning it's endemic to that country.

Scientists are still learning about this moth. They are not entirely sure if it fits perfectly into the Tinea group of moths. Because of this, sometimes it's called Tinea (s.l.) accusatrix, which means its exact place in the moth family tree is still being studied.

What Does the Tinea accusatrix Moth Look Like?

This moth is quite small. Its wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other) is usually between 8 and 10 millimeters. That's about the size of a grain of rice!

Forewings: Dark and Detailed

The front wings, called forewings, are a dark brownish-grey color. They have some cool patterns:

• A short, thin white line runs down the middle from the base of the wing.
• White stripes come from the front edge (costa) of the wing. These stripes are slanted and reach about halfway across the wing.
• There are also shorter slanted marks from the back edge (dorsum).
• On the back half of the wing, there are seven white, wedge-shaped marks along the front edge.
• You might also see a white mark near the bottom corner (tornus) and a small white dot near the tip.
• The space between these white marks can look shiny, with hints of purple and bronze.
• Right at the very tip of the wing, there's a round, very dark black spot.

Hindwings: Light and Shimmering

The back wings, called hindwings, are a lighter grey color. They also have a pretty shimmer, reflecting bronze and purple light.