Tingena marcida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tingena marcida |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Oecophoridae
|
| Genus: | |
| Species: |
T. marcida
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tingena marcida (Philpott, 1927)
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Tingena marcida is a small moth that belongs to the family Oecophoridae. This moth is special because it is endemic to New Zealand. This means you can only find it living naturally in New Zealand and nowhere else in the world!
How This Moth Got Its Name
A scientist named Alfred Philpott first described this moth in 1927. He used moths he found at Bottle Lake in Christchurch. Another scientist, Stewart Lindsay, helped collect these moths. Philpott first called the moth Borkhausenia marcida.
Later, in 1928, George Hudson, another expert on moths and butterflies, wrote about this moth in his book, The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand. He also used the name Borkhausenia marcida.
Then, in 1988, John S. Dugdale, a different scientist, decided that this moth actually belonged to a different group, or genus, called Tingena. So, its name was changed to Tingena marcida.
The very first moth specimen that Philpott used to describe the species is called a holotype. It is kept safe at the Canterbury Museum.
What Does It Look Like?
Tingena marcida moths are usually about 15 to 17 millimeters long. That's about the length of a small paperclip! Their heads, mouthparts (palpi), and upper body (thorax) are a brownish-grey color. Their antennae are brown with grey rings.
Their front wings are a white color, but they have many tiny specks of pale bronze-brown. Sometimes, it's hard to see any clear patterns on their wings. But usually, there are a few darker bronze-brown spots. One spot is often found under a fold in the wing, and another is in the middle of the wing. There might also be spots near the edge of the wing. The edges of the wings, called fringes, are the same color as the wing itself, but their tips are darker.
The back wings of the moth are a light greyish-brown. The fringes on these wings are also greyish-brown with a dark line at the bottom.
It can be tricky to tell this moth apart from others just by looking at it because its markings are not very clear. However, scientists can look at special parts of the male moth's body to be sure of its identity. This moth is similar to Tingena innotella, but you can tell them apart by looking at the male moth's unique features. It might also look like Izatha psychra because of its grey color. But T. marcida has special comb-like antennae called antennal pecten, which Izatha moths do not have.
Where Does It Live?
As mentioned, Tingena marcida is only found in New Zealand. Scientists have found this moth in several places in the Canterbury area. These places include its original discovery site at Bottle Lake, as well as Governor's Bay and Mount Grey.
This moth has also been found in three important natural areas in Christchurch. These areas are protected because they are special for their plants and animals.
