''Stigmella oriastra'' is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of ...

of the family Nepticulidae. It is found in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

. The length of the forewings is about 3 mm. Adults have been recorded in January and from October to December. There is probably one generation per year. The larvae feed on ''

Celmisia ''Celmisia'' (New Zealand aster or New Zealand daisy) is a genus of perennial herbs or subshrubs, in the family Asteraceae. Most of the species are endemic to New Zealand; several others are endemic to Australia. ; Species and nothospecies #RED ...

'' species, including '' Celmisia coriacea''. They mine the leaves of their host plant.

Larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Th ...

have been recorded in February, April and May. They are 3–4 mm long and pale yellow. The cocoon is buff and spun among debris on the ground.

References

External links

Fauna of New Zealand - Number 16: Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)
Nepticulidae Moths of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Moths described in 1917 Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand {{Stigmella-stub