Tingena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tingena |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Oecophoridae
|
| Genus: |
Tingena
Walker, 1864
|
Tingena is a special group, or genus, of small moths. They are part of the concealer moth family, known scientifically as Oecophoridae. These moths are truly unique because they are found only in New Zealand. This means they are endemic to that country. A scientist named Francis Walker first described this group of moths in 1864.
Contents
What are Concealer Moths?
Concealer moths, like the Tingena species, are usually small. They often have dull colors like brown, grey, or black. This helps them blend in with their surroundings. They are called "concealer moths" because their wings often fold flat over their bodies. This makes them look like a twig or a piece of bark when they are resting.
These moths are part of the huge group of insects called Lepidoptera. This group includes all butterflies and moths. Moths are important parts of many ecosystems. They can help pollinate plants and are a food source for other animals.
Where Do Tingena Moths Live?
All species of Tingena moths live in New Zealand. This makes them a special part of New Zealand's wildlife. New Zealand has many unique plants and animals that are found nowhere else on Earth. This is because the islands have been separated from other landmasses for a very long time.
Tingena moths can be found in different habitats across New Zealand. They might live in forests, shrublands, or even gardens. Their caterpillars often feed on dead leaves or decaying wood. This helps to recycle nutrients in the environment.
Life Cycle of a Moth
Like all moths, Tingena moths go through a complete metamorphosis. This means they change a lot during their lives.
- Egg: The life cycle starts when a female moth lays tiny eggs. She usually places them on plants or other surfaces.
- Larva (Caterpillar): The eggs hatch into larvae, which we call caterpillars. These caterpillars spend their time eating and growing. They shed their skin several times as they get bigger.
- Pupa: Once a caterpillar is fully grown, it forms a pupa. For moths, this is often a cocoon. Inside the pupa, the caterpillar transforms into an adult moth.
- Adult Moth: Finally, the adult moth emerges from the pupa. The adult moth's main job is to find a mate and lay eggs. This starts the cycle all over again.
Species of Tingena
The Tingena genus includes many different species. Each species is a unique type of moth within this group. Here are some of the species that have been identified:
- Tingena actinias (Meyrick, 1901)
- Tingena affinis (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena afflicta (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena aletis (Meyrick, 1905)
- Tingena amiculata (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena anaema (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena ancogramma (Meyrick, 1919)
- Tingena apanthes (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena apertella (Walker, 1864)
- Tingena aphrontis (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena armigerella (Walker, 1864)
- Tingena aurata (Philpott, 1931)
- Tingena basella (Walker, 1863)
- Tingena berenice (Meyrick, 1929)
- Tingena brachyacma (Meyrick, 1909)
- Tingena chloradelpha (Meyrick, 1905)
- Tingena chloritis (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena chrysogramma (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena clarkei (Philpott, 1928)
- Tingena collitella (Walker, 1864)
- Tingena compsogramma (Meyrick, 1920)
- Tingena contextella (Walker, 1864)
- Tingena crotala (Meyrick, 1915)
- Tingena decora (Philpott, 1928)
- Tingena enodis (Philpott, 1927)
- Tingena epichalca (Meyrick, 1886)
- Tingena epimylia (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena eriphaea (Meyrick, 1914)
- Tingena eumenopa (Meyrick, 1926)
- Tingena falsiloqua (Meyrick, 1932)
- Tingena fenestrata (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena grata (Philpott, 1927)
- Tingena griseata (Butler, 1877)
- Tingena hastata (Philpott, 1916)
- Tingena hemimochla (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena homodoxa (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena honesta (Philpott, 1929)
- Tingena honorata (Philpott, 1918)
- Tingena hoplodesma (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena horaea (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena idiogama (Meyrick, 1924)
- Tingena innotella (Walker, 1864)
- Tingena lassa (Philpott, 1930)
- Tingena laudata (Philpott, 1930)
- Tingena letharga (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena levicula (Philpott, 1930)
- Tingena loxotis (Meyrick, 1905)
- Tingena macarella (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena maranta (Meyrick, 1886)
- Tingena marcida (Philpott, 1927)
- Tingena melanamma (Meyrick, 1905)
- Tingena melinella (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875)
- Tingena monodonta (Meyrick, 1911)
- Tingena morosa (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena nycteris (Meyrick, 1890)
- Tingena ombrodella (Hudson, 1950)
- Tingena opaca (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena ophiodryas (Meyrick, 1936)
- Tingena oporaea (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena oxyina (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena pallidula (Philpott, 1924)
- Tingena paratrimma (Meyrick, 1910)
- Tingena paula (Philpott, 1927)
- Tingena penthalea (Meyrick, 1905)
- Tingena perichlora (Meyrick, 1907)
- Tingena pharmactis (Meyrick, 1905)
- Tingena phegophylla (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena plagiatella (Walker, 1863)
- Tingena pronephela (Meyrick, 1907)
- Tingena robiginosa (Philpott, 1915)
- Tingena seclusa (Philpott, 1921)
- Tingena serena (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena siderodeta (Meyrick, 1883)
- Tingena siderota (Meyrick, 1888)
- Tingena sinuosa (Philpott, 1928)
- Tingena tephrophanes (Meyrick, 1929)
- Tingena terrena (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena thalerodes (Meyrick, 1916)
- Tingena vestita (Philpott, 1926)
- Tingena xanthodesma (Philpott, 1923)
- Tingena xanthomicta (Meyrick, 1916)
