Trachypepla roseata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trachypepla roseata |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Phylum: | |
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| Family: |
Oecophoridae
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| Genus: |
Trachypepla
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| Species: |
T. roseata
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| Binomial name | |
| Trachypepla roseata Philpott, 1923
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Trachypepla roseata is a small moth that belongs to the Oecophoridae family. This special moth lives only in New Zealand. It's quite rare, and scientists don't have enough information about it. Because of this, it's listed as "Data Deficient" by New Zealand's Department of Conservation.
Contents
Discovering the Roseate Moth
This moth was first described by a scientist named Alfred Philpott in 1923. He found a specimen in January at Dun Mountain, near Nelson. Another scientist, George Hudson, had also found this moth earlier in Takaka. Hudson even wrote about and drew pictures of this moth in his 1928 book, The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. The original specimen, called the holotype, is kept safe at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.
What Does the Roseate Moth Look Like?
The Trachypepla roseata moth is about 13 millimeters long, which is a little over half an inch. Its head is a mix of white and brown. Its body is mostly greyish-brown with tiny dark spots.
One cool thing about this moth is its wings. The front wings are greyish-brown with dark spots. They have two small patches of rosy-pink scales. There's also a wide whitish band across the wing that has some darker colors inside it. The back wings are a greyish-brown color.
Where Does the Roseate Moth Live?
This moth is endemic to New Zealand. This means it can only be found there and nowhere else in the world! It has been seen in a few places in the Nelson and Tasman areas. These include Dun Mountain (where it was first found at about 600 meters above sea level), Takaka, and Wairoa Gorge.
Life and Habits
Adult Trachypepla roseata moths are usually seen flying around in January. They like to live in forest habitats.
Protecting the Roseate Moth
Scientists have given this moth a special conservation status called "Data Deficient." This is part of the New Zealand Threat Classification System. "Data Deficient" means that scientists don't have enough information about the moth's population or how it's doing. They need more research to understand if it's truly endangered or not.
