''Cryptaspasma querula'' is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. This species inhabits podocarp and broadleaf forest. The larvae consume parts of the seeds and fruits of tawa, tarairi and miro trees and are predated upon by the invasive to New Zealand

house mouse The house mouse (''Mus musculus'') is a small mammal of the order Rodentia, characteristically having a pointed snout, large rounded ears, and a long and almost hairless tail. It is one of the most abundant species of the genus '' Mus''. Althoug ...

. Larvae pupate in leaf litter under their host trees. Adults are variable in appearance and also in size. They are on the wing throughout the year and are nocturnal but are attracted to light. They can be found having flown inside houses and have also been observed resting on fences or other human made structures during the day.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1912 and named ''Eucosma querula''. George Hudson in his 1928 book ''The butterflies and moths of New Zealand'' discussed and illustrated this species under that name. Also in 1928 Alfred Philpott studied the male genitalia of this species. Alexey Diakonoff placed this species within the genus ''Cryptaspasma'' in 1959. The male lectotype, collected in Wellington by George Hudson, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Meyrick described the adults of this species as follows: Adults of ''C. querula'' is variable in both the appearance of the yellow markings on their wings as well as in their size. The female tends to be more plainly coloured than the male.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country.

Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits native podocarp and broadleaf forest. The larvae feed on the fleshy cotyledons of '' Beilschmiedia tawa'' seeds as well as on the

endosperm The endosperm is a tissue produced inside the seeds of most of the flowering plants following double fertilization. It is triploid (meaning three chromosome sets per nucleus) in most species, which may be auxin-driven. It surrounds the embryo and ...

of the fruits of ''B. tawa,'' '' tarairi'' and miro trees. Larvae of this species has also been raised in captivity on common oak. The larvae of this species are a common food source for '' Mus musculus''.

Behaviour

The larvae of this species pupates in the leaf litter under their host species. Adults of this species is on the wing most months of the year. Although they can be disturbed during the day, they are nocturnal and are attracted to light. They can be found inside houses due to this attraction and have also been observed resting on fences or other human made structures.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5190744 Microcorsini Moths of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic fauna of New Zealand Moths described in 1912 Endemic moths of New Zealand