Today Nicola Toki, DoC's endangered species ambassador, presents a mystery moth that grows from what is thought to be the world's skinniest caterpillar.
Landcare Research scientist Dr Corinne Watts first discovered a skinny, bright orange caterpillar in 2003, and nicknamed it "Fred the Thread". Initially, the identity of the tunnelling creature was puzzling. However, "Fred" turned out to be the caterpillar of a previously unknown genus of moth, which now has a scientific name; Houdinia flexilissima
