Yellow-headed lichen moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-headed lichen moth |
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The Crambidia cephalica, also known as the yellow-headed lichen moth, is a small moth. It belongs to a large group of moths called the Erebidae family. Two scientists, Augustus Radcliffe Grote and Coleman Townsend Robinson, first described this moth in 1870.
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About the Yellow-Headed Lichen Moth
This moth lives in the central and southern parts of the United States. You can find it from eastern Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Its home stretches all the way to southern Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, and northern Georgia.
Where Does It Live?
The yellow-headed lichen moth likes to live in certain places. Its favorite homes are open grasslands called steppes. It also enjoys living in forests that are not too dense. These open areas give it space to fly and find food.
What Does It Look Like?
This moth is fairly small. Its front wings, called forewings, are about 9 to 15 millimeters long. That's about the length of a small button!
The forewings of this moth are a plain white color. They do not have any special patterns or markings on them. The back wings, called hindwings, are a yellowish-white color.
When Does It Fly?
Adult yellow-headed lichen moths can be seen flying for many months. They are active from March all the way through September. During this long period, they have multiple generations. This means new moths are born and grow up several times each year.
What Do They Eat?
Scientists believe that the young moths, called larvae, eat certain things. They probably munch on lichens. Lichens are like a mix of fungus and algae that grow on rocks and trees. The larvae might also eat different kinds of algae.
