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 ↓
Hierodoris illita
Hierodoris illita (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875). Endemic. Local.
Examples can exhibit quite variable forewing markings and coloration.
White-tipped Clover Casebearer
Coleophora alcyonipennella (Kollar, 1832). Adventive.
Being one of the metallic Coleophora this species is very similar to C. mayerella requiring genitalia examination to separate unless an association with a specific host plant can be established.
Elachista physalodes
Elachista physalodes was named by Kaila in 2011. It is a member of Grass Miner Moths Family Elachistidae.
Tingena ancogramma
Tingena ancogramma (Meyrick, 1919). F.L 7 mm. Endemic. Common.
This is a peculiarly difficult genus which urgently needs revising.
Trachypepla festiva
Trachypepla festiva (Philpott, 1930). Endemic.
This moth is one of several that closely mimic bird droppings, though the forewing pattern and tufts of raised scales also provide camouflage against a patchwork background of lichens.
Trachypepla protochlora
Trachypepla protochlora was first named by Meyrick in 1883. It belongs to the family Oecophoridae. The perfect insect appears from November till February and frequents native forest.
Lecithocera micromela
Lecithocera micromela is a moth in the Lecithoceridae family. It was described by Lower in 1897. Native forest; wetlands. Adults can be found from November to April. They fly at night and come to light.
Orchard Featherfoot
Stathmopoda horticola (Dugdale, 1988). Endemic. Common & Widespread.
The male horticola is pale and plain, the female is more patterned as per the image.
Trachypepla euryleucota
Trachypepla euryleucota (Meyrick, 1883). Endemic.
This moth is one of several that closely mimic bird droppings, though the forewing pattern and tufts of raised scales also provide camouflage against a patchwork background of lichens.
Trachypepla hieropis
Trachypepla hieropis was named by Meyrick in 1892 and belongs to the family Oecophoridae. Adults are on the wing from October through to January in native forest. They fly at night and are attracted to artificial light.
Trachypepla amphileuca
Trachypepla amphileuca (Meyrick, 1914). F.L. 5 mm. Endemic. Scarce.
This species is similar to T. euryleucota, from which it may be readily distinguished by the posterior third of the costa being wholly white (Hudson, 1928).
Trachypepla conspicuella
Trachypepla conspicuella (Walker, 1864). Endemic.
In general appearance it is lighter than T. euryleucota with less distinct markings.
Tingena actinias
Tingena actinias (Meyrick, 1901). F.L. 7 mm. Endemic.
This is a peculiarly difficult genus which urgently needs revising.
Cryptolechia rhodobapta
Cryptolechia rhodobapta was first described by Meyrick in 1923. It is a moth in the Depressariidae family and is endemic to New Zealand. The perfect insect is on the wing throughout the summer.
Gymnobathra calliploca
Gymnobathra calliploca is a moth of the Xyloryctidae family. It was described by Meyrick in 1883 and is endemic to New Zealand. The perfect insect appears from October to February and frequents dense forests.
Gymnobathra omphalota
Gymnobathra omphalota is a moth of the Xyloryctidae family. It was described by Meyrick in 1888. Native forest. Adults are on the wing from November to January. They can be found during the day but also fly at night and are attracted to light.
Gymnobathra hyetodes
Gymnobathra hyetodes is a moth of the Xyloryctidae family. It was described by Meyrick in 1884. This fairly common moth can be found in native forest. Adults are on the wing from January to March. They fly at night and are attracted to light.
Gymnobathra bryaula
Gymnobathra bryaula is a moth of the Xyloryctidae family. It was described by Meyrick in 1905. Adults are on the wing December to February in native forest. Not commonly observed as they are not attracted to artificial light but can sometimes be found sitting on tree fern trunks during the day
Lathicrossa leucocentra
Lathicrossa leucocentra was named by Meyrick in 1883. It belongs to the family Xyloryctidae. Adults appear from September through to February in native forest. They can be collected both by day and at night when they come to light.
Hierodoris huia
Hierodoris huia was named by Hoare in 2005 and belongs to the family Oecophoridae. Only known from the type locality in west Auckland where it has been collected on two occasions, in January in gardens less than 500 metres apart (Hoare, 2005).
Hierodoris atychioides
Hierodoris atychioides (Butler, 1877). F.L. 6 mm. Endemic. Local.
Variable forewing markings and shading.
Hierodoris stella
Hierodoris stella was named by Meyrick in 1914, new combination. It is a species of moth in the Xyloryctidae family. Adults can be found from December onwards in native forest clearings.
Izatha metadelta
Izatha metadelta was named by Meyrick in 1905. It is a moth of the Xyloryctidae family. This species is on the wing in North Island's native forests from December to February.
Izatha mesoschista
Izatha mesoschista was named by Meyrick in 1931. It is a moth of the Xyloryctidae family. It is one of the commonest and most widespread species of Izatha in the North Island (Hoare, 2010). Flight period is October to February, with most occurring from November to January.
Izatha hudsoni
Izatha hudsoni is a moth of the Xyloryctidae family. Native forest. Adults can be found from November through to February. They fly at night and come to light.
Izatha minimira
Izatha minimira was described by Hoare in 2010. It is a species of moth in the family Xylorycitidae. It is only known from the northern North Island; Northland to the Bay of Plenty. The perfect insect is on the wing from January through to April.
Thamnosara sublitella
Thamnosara sublitella was first described by Walker in 1864 (Gelechia). It belongs to the family Xyloryctidae. The perfect insect appears in November and December, and is found on dry forest-clad hills (Hudson, 1928).
Izatha phaeoptila
Izatha phaeoptila was named by Meyrick in 1905. It is a moth of the Xylorycitidae family. According to Hoare 2010, it is common in the forests of west Auckland, but has not been encountered elsewhere in numbers. Adults are on the wing from January to early March.
Barea exarcha
Barea exarcha was named by Meyrick in 1883 (Phloeopola). It has been introduced from Australia.
Barea confusella
Barea confusella is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It was described by Francis Walker in 1864 (Oecophora). Parks and gardens mostly; also clearings and edges of native forest. Adults are found mostly from November to February. They fly at night and come to light.
Corocosma memorabilis
Corocosma memorabilis was named by Meyrick in 1927. It is a species of moth of the Oecophoridae family and is endemic to New Zealand. Adults are on the wing in December till January in native forest. Hoare states "They seem to like sunnier places on the edge of forest, and can be found on old trees even in city parks".
Eulechria zophoessa
Eulechria zophoessa (Meyrick, 1883). Endemic.
Pinkish tinge, no thoracic scale crest, no distinct dark stripes at sides of thorax.
Tachystola hemisema
Tachystola hemisema belongs to the family Oecophoridae and is adventive to New Zealand.
Phaeosaces compsotypa
Phaeosaces compsotypa was first named by Meyrick in 1885 (Phaeosaces). It belongs to the family Depressariidae and is endemic to New Zealand. The perfect insect is on the wing from October to March in native forest and is rather common.
Sphyrelata amotella
Sphyrelata amotella is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It was described by Walker in 1864 and is adventive to New Zealand.
Ruddy Streak
Tachystola acroxantha is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is widespread throughout the north and south islands. It can be found in gardens and hedges throughout the year, possibly in a succession of broods. Comes readily to light.
Elachista ombrodoca
Elachista ombrodoca is a moth in the family Elachistidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1889. Hudson (1928) states " The perfect insect appears from September till March, and is found on open grassy places, etc., where it is often very common". Based on recent observations it seems to be more of a South Island species.
Elachista gerasmia
Elachista gerasmia was named by Meyrick in 1889. It is a species of moth of the family Elachistidae. According to Meyrick, the perfect insect appears in December till March and is common in swampy places. Darker specimens associated with harder-stemmed rushes may be the very similar E. physalodes Kaila, which is confirmed from NZ and probably native (Hoare).
Circoxena ditrocha
Circoxena ditrocha was named by Meyrick in 1916. It belongs to the family Elachistidae and is endemic to New Zealand, where it is relatively widespread from Auckland to Invercargill. The perfect insect appears in December and March, frequenting the edges of forest or scrub. It is of sluggish habit and is usually obtained by sweeping foliage, especially Nothopanax ...more ↓
Chenopod Casebearer
Coleophora versurella is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It was described by Zeller in 1849. Adults are found from December to March in wasteground, fields with root crops and coastal saltmarshes.
Batrachedra agaura
Batrachedra agaura was named by Meyrick in 1901. It is a species of moth of the Batrachedridae family. Adults are found mostly from October to February in native forest, especially beech. They also inhabit shrubland, especially manuka scrub. They fly at night and occasionally come to light.
Batrachedra arenosella
Batrachedra arenosella was named by Walker in 1864 (Gracillaria). It is a species of moth of the Batrachedridae family. The perfect insect appears from January to March, and is found in swampy places where rushes are abundant (Hudson, 1928). Can be attracted to artificial light in some numbers.
Batrachedra psithyra
Batrachedra psithyra was named by Meyrick in 1889. Native forest. Adults are mainly found from October until the end of December. They can be collected by day from rough overgrown grass lands and fern hills near native forest. They also come to light at night.
Zapyrastra calliphana
Zapyrastra calliphana (Meyrick, 1889). Endemic.
These tiny metallic-looking moths belong to a largely northern hemisphere family Momphidae.
Sarisophora leucoscia
Sarisophora leucoscia was named by Turner in 1919. It is a moth in the Lecithoceridae family which is also found in Australia. Adults are on the wing from October to May and are common in the north of the North Island. They can be collected both by day and at night when they come to light.
Red Clover Casebearer Moth
Coleophora deauratella Lienig & Zeller, 1846. Adventive.
Being one of the metallic Coleophora this species is very similar to C. alcyonipennella and C. mayerella requiring genitalia examination to separate unless an association with a specific host plant can be established.
Anisoplaca achyrota
Anisoplaca achyrota is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Meyrick in 1886. Adults are on the wing from January to May across the north island.
Norfolk Island Hibiscus Moth
Anisoplaca cosmia is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by John David Bradley in 1956 and is adventive to New Zealand.
Anisoplaca ptyoptera
Anisoplaca ptyoptera is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 and is endemic to New Zealand. Adult moths are on the wing from October until May with peak emergence occurring in January. The adult moths come in two size classes and should the size of the female be in the larger class fecundity is improved.
Gymnobathra sarcoxantha
Gymnobathra sarcoxantha was named by Meyrick in 1883. It belongs to the family Xyloryctidae and is endemic to New Zealand. The adult insect is on the wing from October to April but is sparsely distributed in the north island.
Bilobata subsecivella
Bilobata subsecivella is a moth in the Gelechiidae family. It was described by Zeller in 1852. Adults are on the wing from December to March.
Tomato Stemborer
Symmetrischema tangolias is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is native to South America, but has become a pest worldwide. Records include North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Leptocroca sanguinolenta
Leptocroca sanguinolenta is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is found in New South Wales (Australia) and New Zealand where it is on the wing during winter.
