| Endangered Species: Herodias Underwing
Moth |
A Christiansburg Elementary Project
Submitted by John
Christiansburg Elementary School, Christiansburg, U.S.A.
 |
|
Photography courtesy of Virginia's Endangered Species |
Why Study This Topic?
My topic that I am researching is an insect, and its
name is the Herodias Underwing Moth. I want to find out why it has such
an unusual name.
What Was Already Known
I insisted that I didn't know of a moth that was endangered.
I knew that moths are attracted to light. I think moths are the neatest
thing on earth.
Search for Information
. I looked all over the school for information. I actually
found some on the Internet and out of an endangered species book.
Description
The color of the Herodias Underwing Moth is white,
brown, black, and gray. Its shape is a torpedo shape. I could not find
out about its size.
Habitat Requirements
Its shelter and protection is in a tree or under a
tree branch. Its enemies are bats, birds, and spiders. If predators are
chasing the moth, it would go to the nearest tree and climb under a branch
and stay there as long as the predator stays.
Adaptations
The moth's camouflage is that its color is that of
an animal and its color matches the bark on trees where it hides.
Reasons for Endangerment
The main reason for its endangerment is man. The threat
is that airplanes drop chemicals on the trees, and it kills the Herodias
Underwing Moth.
Restoration Actions
Scientists are trying to breed this moth, and trying
to catch it to put it in captivity to keep it safe from human pollution.
After the moth has babies, scientists raise the offspring. Then they release
the adult moths into the wild. I hope in the future, people will treat
all animals as equals. I hope people spray nontoxic chemicals on trees,
so it will keep this beautiful moth alive.
What Was Learned
I learned that the habitat of the Herodias Underwing
Moth is unhealthy. I do not know the status of these moths at this point.
Scientists are trying all types of ways to save them. I liked reading and
researching the Herodias Underwing Moth. They are not many left, because
these moths are either in captivity or dead.
Conclusions From Research
Scientists are trying to build artificial trees to
save the Herodias Underwing Moth. In the future, I think conservations
will not spray harmful chemicals in trees. The problem is a lot more complicated,
because if a particular plane sprays trees then other crop dusting planes
claim, "If they can do it, we can too."
There is another reson why the Herodia's Underwing
Moth is on the endangerd species list. The woodsman chop down the trees
that are their shelter, food, and protection.
If this magnificient moth is to survive, I think
both spraying chemicals harmful to the Herodias Underwing Moth and chopping
down trees must stop.
Bibliography
Terwilliger, Karen.1991. "Virginia's Endangered
Species" Pages: 245-246
Return
to Insect page.
If you would like to add to these Endangered Species
pages then email your contributions to Christiansburg
Elementary
© copyright 1997
Christiansburg Elementary |
Last updated on March 12, 1997
|