Stigmella erysibodea
Encyclopedia
Stigmella erysibodea is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is found in New Zealand
.
The length of the forewings is 3–4 mm.
The larvae probably feed on Olearia ilicifolia
and probably mine
the leaves of their host plant.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae is a family of very small moths with a worldwide distribution. They are characterised by eyecaps over the eyes . These pigmy moths or midget moths, as they are commonly known, include the smallest of all living moths, with a wingspan that can be as little as 3 mm...
family. It is found in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The length of the forewings is 3–4 mm.
The larvae probably feed on Olearia ilicifolia
Olearia ilicifolia
Mountain Holly is a shrub or small tree endemic to New Zealand also referred to as Hakeke or New Zealand Holly. It is a spreading shrub or small tree of the family Asteraceae, and has largely serrated and undulating grey-green leaves...
and probably mine
Leaf miner
Leaf miner is a term used to describe the larvae of many different species of insect which live in and eat the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths , sawflies and flies , though some beetles and wasps also exhibit this behavior.Like Woodboring beetles, leaf...
the leaves of their host plant.