Endoxyla cinereus
| Endoxyla cinereus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Cossidae |
| Genus: | Endoxyla |
| Species: | E. cinereus
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| Binomial name | |
| Endoxyla cinereus (Tepper, 1890)
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| Synonyms | |
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Endoxyla cinereus, the giant wood moth, is a moth in the family Cossidae.[1] It is found in Australia (Queensland, New South Wales) and New Zealand.[2] The species was first described in 1890. A rare contemporary sighting of the moth at a school in Australia garnered notice as an editor's pick among the daily headlines of the New York Times on May 8, 2021.[3]
It is the heaviest moth in the world; weighing up to 30 g.[4] Its wingspan is approximately 23 cm, or just over nine inches. A variable pattern of light and dark grey or brown appears on the wings of this moth species.
The larvae bore into the trunks of trees of the Eucalyptus species. Pupation takes place in the larval tunnel.[5]
References[]
- ^ "The Global Lepidoptera Names Index". Natural History Museum. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Yakovlev, R.V., 2011: Catalogue of the Family Cossidae of the Old World. Neue Entomologische Nachrichten, 66: 1-129.
- ^ Cramer, Maria, This Moth Is Huge in Australia, The New York Times, Saturday, May 8, 2021
- ^ Giant Wood Moth, The Australian Museum
- ^ "lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
Further reading[]
- Cramer, Maria (May 7, 2021). "A Heavy in the Insect World Makes a Rare Appearance". The New York Times.
Categories:
- Endoxyla (moth)
- Moths described in 1890
- Moths of Australia
- Moths of New Zealand
- Zeuzerinae stubs