For several days I had been noticing a small creature in our upstairs bathroom. Every time I had a shower it seemed to be sitting somewhere different. I thought it was just an unusual fly. In its resting position its wings are always extended left and right forming a "T" shape.
With its wings extended, the insect only measures one centimetre across. I tried to take my own picture of our tiny lodger but my effort was not worthy of posting so I found a picture on the internet instead. It is an exact magnified version of how our little fellow looks.
It took me a while to find it via Google but in the end I was able to declare with confidence that it is a plume moth. Yes - a moth! Apparently, it unfurls its wings when flying but when stationary it rolls them up - as shown in the picture. Quite remarkable!
And here's another amazing fact about plume moths. There are over 1580 species of plume moth - all a little different from each other in terms of appearance and feeding habits. It is very likely that not all species of plume moth (Pterophoridae) have yet been discovered by entomologists.
I guess that the same could be said of other small creatures on our planet. We do not know everything there is to know about them and probably never will. Some will certainly become extinct before we even discover them.
Did you know there are over 150,000 different known species of fly on this planet and over 160,000 different species of moth with many sub-species just like the plume moth.
I hope that I see our plume moth when I am standing in the shower tomorrow morning but I further hope that he or she is not holding a tiny camera aimed in my direction! This temple is for members only.
I could say something very rude, but I will not, because I'm so mature:)
ReplyDeleteYeah, girl, the same thought crossed my mind too, hahahahaha.
DeleteAre all Canadian dames smutty?
DeleteThat's fascinating!
ReplyDeleteAustralia has a newly identified bee, it has teeny little horns and has been named the lucifer bee
Where has it been found in your sub-continent?
DeleteYes, there are still many creatures on this planet we don't even know exist, and many that we do know exist but know next to nothing about. Take the Deep Sea - even this inhospitable world is teeming with life.
ReplyDeleteSo what does your new lodger live off?
I am not keen on sharing my bathroom (or other rooms, for that matter) with uninvited guests, but most of the time what comes in finds its way out again when I keep the window open for a while.
Some adult plume moths do not eat anything. They survive on the nutrients they acquired during the larval state.
DeleteIt reminds me of a Daddy Long Legs. One of my chores for Jean was being summoned to remove such horrible creatures. Happy days!😊
ReplyDeleteOh - you were so brave Dave!
DeleteOh the things that moth has seen, that can't be unseen.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha!
DeleteThe plume moth in repose reminds me of a ship whose sails are tightly furled. What an amazing little creature.
ReplyDeleteThere must be a reason why its wings are as they are but my googling didn't reveal that reason.
DeleteThe magnified photo is amazing - so much great detail!
ReplyDeleteNature worked so hard over millions of years to evolve the plume moths that we see today.
DeleteThe wonders of nature...that's a cool insect.
ReplyDeleteWhen unfurled, their wings resemble the plume feathers of a bird.
DeleteHe (or she?) is probably inside trying to stay warm!
ReplyDelete