Titanomis sisyrota
Described as New Zealand’s most enigmatic moth, the frosted phoenix has been recorded on only a handful of occasions, with the most recent sighting at Waipapa Dam in 1959. That is until now. In March of 2024, a photograph of this moth taken on Stewart Island marked the first confirmed sighting in over 60 years.
The common name ‘frosted phoenix’ is a poetic reference to this moth’s ability to seemingly vanish like ashes on the breeze, only to somehow return later. It is the only species in the genus Titanomis, a name that loosely translates as giant and anomalous. It is certainly an anomaly in terms of taxonomic placement as it does not seem to belong to any known moth family. Little is known of its biology, although it has been suggested this species is attracted to low ultraviolet light sources. Based on capture records, it has been suggested these insects may be associated with beech or podocarp forests, and possibly wetlands.
Check these links for more info on the Frosted Phoenix in NZ
Wikipedia: Information on Titanomis
DOC Information: New Zealand’s most enigmatic moth: What we know about Titanomis sisyrota
images
Click on the image to visit the official observation.
