Musotima nitidalis
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Musotima nitidalis, also known as the golden brown fern moth, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. This species was described by Francis Walker in 1866. It is native to Australia and New Zealand and was first found in Europe in 2009.
| Musotima nitidalis | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Crambidae |
| Genus: | Musotima |
| Species: | M. nitidalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Musotima nitidalis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
Hosts
In Australia and New Zealand the larvae feed on the undersides of the fronds of various Polypodiophyta species, including common maidenhair fern (Adiantum aethiopicum), Austral bracken (Pteridium esculentum), and bat's wing fern (Histiopteris incisa) and lives in a sparse web.[2] Larvae were first found in England in 2013, near Hern, Dorset and so far have been found feeding on bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), broad-buckler fern (Dryopteris dilatata) and hard fern (Blechnum spicant).[4]
Distribution
It is known from New Zealand and most of Australia, including Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. In 2009 the moth was found at Merritown Heath, Hurn, Dorset and since then across southern England to Norfolk. It is suspected to have been introduced from imported tree ferns.[4]