Stigmella cassiniae
Species of moth endemic to New Zealand
title: "Stigmella cassiniae" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["stigmella", "moths-of-new-zealand", "moths-described-in-1989", "endemic-moths-of-new-zealand"] description: "Species of moth endemic to New Zealand" topic_path: "geography/new-zealand" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella_cassiniae" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Species of moth endemic to New Zealand ::
| image = Stigmella cassiniae male holotype.png | image_caption = Male holotype | taxon =Stigmella cassiniae | authority = Donner & Wilkinson, 1989 | synonyms =
Stigmella cassiniae is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. The larvae are leaf miners of leaves and stems of Ozothamnus leptophyllus. When mature, the larvae pupate amongst leaf litter on the ground. Adult moths have been recorded on the wing in January, February, April, and October. It has been hypothesised that there are likely two generations in a year.
Taxonomy
This species was first described in 1989 by Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson from specimens collected in the Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki and Southland regions. The male holotype specimen, collected at Cheviot Face in the Takitimu Range on 30 January 1976 on Cassinia vauvilliersii (now known as Ozothamnus leptophyllus) by J. S. Dugdale, is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.
Description
Larvae are 2–3 mm long and orange-brown. Adult moths have forewings with a length of between 2–3 mm. Donner and Wilkinson described the adult male of this species as follows:
Donner and Wilkinson went on to described the adult female as follows:
This species is easily identified by its small size and its forewing colouration of golden brown.
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. The species has been observed at Mt. Benger at an altitude of 1100 m.
Host
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Ozothamnus_leptophyllus_300705464.jpg" caption="Host species ''O. leptophyllus''."] ::
The larvae feed on Ozothamnus leptophyllus.
References
References
- {{Cite Q. Q28109648
- {{Cite Q. Q45079930
- {{Cite Q. Q45922947
- "Stigmella cassiniae Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
- {{Cite Q. Q54578259
- (2011). "Stigmella cassiniae Donner & Wilkinson, 1989".
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