Micro-Moths of New Zealand's Kauri Kingdom
This guide aims to illustrate the diverse range of micro-moths recorded from New Zealand's upper North Island.
To identify a particular species select key characteristics from the menu on the left. Adding more features narrows the search. Alternatively, if you're sure of its taxonomic ...more ↓
Glyphipterix scintelella
Glyphipterix scintilella was described by Francis Walker in 1864. It belongs to the family Glyphipterigidae and is endemic to New Zealand. Adults can be found during the day resting on Elatostema rugosom and Carex dissita in forest clearings from October to March.
Diamondback Moth
Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758). Adventive.
The small, grayish-brown moth sometimes has a cream-colored band that forms a diamond along its back.
Glyphipterix tungella
Glyphipterix tungella was described by Cajetan Felder, Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875. It belongs to the family Glyphipterigidae and is endemic to New Zealand. Forest clearings; shrubland; sheltered grassy areas. Adults are on the wing from October to March. They fly by day visiting flowers and can be collected using a sweep net through grassy vegetation. ...more ↓
Glyphipterix dichorda
Glyphipterix dichorda (Meyrick, 1911). Endemic.
G. dichorda is a larger, darker, much smarter-looking species than tungella, with distinctly broader hindwings. It has the second dorsal streak on the forewing distinctly longer than the first while in tungella these streaks are of equal length.
Cocksfoot Moth
Glyphipterix simpliciella is a species of moth of the family Glyphipterigidae. They fly in the sunshine and especially feed on nectar of buttercup (Ranunculus species), Crataegus monogyna, Euphorbia esula, and of various Apiaceae species (especially Leucanthemum vulgare) These small moths mainly inhabit flower meadows, especially with buttercup and ...more ↓
Citrus Flower Moth
Prays nephelomima, is a moth of the family Praydidae. Adults can be found from December to April gardens, parks and orchards.
Broom Twig Miner
Leucoptera spartifoliella is a species of moth in family Lyonetiidae. It is used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious weed known as Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius).
Orthenches semifasciata
Orthenches semifasciata was named by Philpott in 1930. It is a moth of the family Plutellidae and is endemic to New Zealand. Adults are on the wing in native forest in early Summer. They fly at night and are attracted to light.
Glyphipterix leptosema
Glyphipterix leptosema is a species of sedge moth. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888 and is endemic to New Zealand. It is reasonably common in the forest of the North Island during the summer.
Zelleria
Zelleria is a genus of moths of the family Yponomeutidae. The species Z. porphyraula can be found in native forest with adults are on the wing from October to April. They fly at night and are attracted to light.
Cocksfoot stem borer
Glyphipterix achlyoessa is a moth of the family Glyphipterigidae. It is known from New Zealand.
Glyphipterix oxymachaera
Glyphipterix oxymachaera is a species of sedge moth in the genus Glyphipterix. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1880. It is found in New Zealand.
Glyphipterix zelota
Glyphipterix zelota is a species of sedge moth in the genus Glyphipterix. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. It is found in New Zealand.
Proditrix gahniae
Proditrix gahniae was first described by Dugdale in 1987 and belongs to the family Plutellidae. Adults can be collected from December to March in native forest where monocotyledonous host plants are common. They fly at night and come to light in small numbers.
Proditrix tetragona
Proditrix tetragona is the largest member of the family Plutellidae in New Zealand and was first described by Hudson in 1918. The adult moth is on the wing from March to April in native forest where their monocotyledonous host plants are common. Adults can be collected in September and October but are more numerous in March and April. They fly at night and come to light.
Chrysorthenches drosochalca
Chrysorthenches drosochalca (Meyrick, 1905) (Orthenches). Endemic. Locally common.
