Tingena loxotis facts for kids

Tingena loxotis is a small moth that belongs to a family called Oecophoridae. This special moth can only be found in New Zealand. Scientists have classified it as "Data Deficient," which means they don't have enough information yet to know if it's safe or if it needs help.

Discovering the Tingena loxotis Moth

A scientist named Edward Meyrick first described this moth in 1905. He found a specimen in Wellington, New Zealand, in January. Meyrick originally named the moth Borkhausenia loxotis.

Later, another scientist, George Hudson, wrote about and drew this moth in his 1928 book, The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand. However, Hudson's drawing isn't considered a very good picture of the moth.

In 1988, John S. Dugdale moved this moth to a different group, or genus, called Tingena. The original specimen that Meyrick used to describe the species, called a lectotype, is kept safe at the Natural History Museum, London.

What Does This Moth Look Like?

The Tingena loxotis moth is quite small, usually about 11 to 12 millimeters long. Its head and mouthparts are dark brown with tiny pale white-yellow speckles. Its antennae are dark brown with light rings. The body and chest area are also dark brown.

The front wings are long and narrow. They are mostly dark brown. You might see some scattered pale yellow scales along a fold near the bottom of the wing. There's a thin, straight, pale yellow band across the wing, sometimes outlined with black scales. There might also be a pale yellow dot in the middle of the wing, and sometimes other dots near the wing's edge. The fuzzy edges of the wings, called cilia, are brownish with pale yellow-white speckles. The back wings are dark brown, and their cilia are also brownish with a darker line at the base.

Where Does This Moth Live?

This moth is endemic to New Zealand, which means it naturally lives only there and nowhere else in the world. It has been found in places like the Wellington Botanic Gardens and more recently in a town called Taihape.

Moth Life and Habits

Adult Tingena loxotis moths are active during the summer months, usually in December and January. George Hudson, the scientist who drew the moth, thought that this species liked to live close to people. He observed them in gardens and even flying into houses.

Is This Moth in Danger?

Scientists use a system called the New Zealand Threat Classification System to check on how well different species are doing. The Tingena loxotis moth has been given a "Data Deficient" conservation status. This means that scientists don't have enough information or data to know if the moth population is healthy or if it's at risk of disappearing. More research is needed to understand its status better.