Stigmella maoriella explained

Stigmella maoriella is a species of moth in the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Not Threatened by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Francis Walker in 1864 and named Tinea maoriella using a specimen collected by Lt Col Daniel Bolton, RE.^[1] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned the species to the genus Stigmella.^[2] The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Walker described the species as follows:

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.^[3] It is found from Auckland to Hawke's Bay.

It can be differentiated from its close relatives S. ogygia and S. hakekeae as S. maoriella lacks the large cornutus on the aedeagus of the male of the species. S. maoriella is also larger than S. ilsea.^[4]

Habitat and host species

The larvae of this species feed on Olearia species.^[5]

Conservation status

This species has been classified as being "Not Threatened" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Walker. Francis. Part XXX. Tineites.. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. London. 1864. 837–1096. 30 May 2018.
2. Dugdale. J. S.. 1988. Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand. 14. 54. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.
3. Web site: Stigmella maoriella (Walker, 1864). www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 2018-05-30.
4. Donner. Hans. Wilkinson. Christopher. 1989. Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Fauna of New Zealand. 16. 28–29. 0477025382.
5. Web site: NZTCS - Lepidoptera spreadsheet. 2013. www.doc.govt.nz. 29 May 2018.
6. Hoare. R.J.B.. Dugdale. J.S.. Edwards. E.D.. Gibbs. G.W.. Patrick. B.H.. Hitchmough. R.A.. Rolfe. J.R.. 2017. Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20. 9.