Stigmella atrata facts for kids

Stigmella atrata is a tiny moth that belongs to a family called Nepticulidae. These moths are very small, often called "micro-moths." You can only find Stigmella atrata in New Zealand.

Discovering the Stigmella atrata Moth

What the Stigmella atrata Moth Looks Like

This little moth is quite small. Its front wings are only about 4 millimeters long. That's roughly the size of a grain of rice!

Where the Stigmella atrata Moth Lives

This special moth is found only in New Zealand. This means it is an endemic species, living naturally in just one place on Earth.

The Life Cycle of Stigmella atrata

Adult Stigmella atrata moths have been seen flying in January, February, November, and December. This suggests that there is likely one main generation of moths each year.

Larvae and Their Food

The young moths, called larvae, are about 4 millimeters long. They are a pale brown color. These larvae have a very interesting way of eating. They are leaf miners. This means they live inside and eat the leaves of a plant called Brachyglottis reinoldii.

How Larvae Mine Leaves

When a larva eats inside a leaf, it creates a "mine." The mine looks like a chain of empty cells. It's as if the larva eats the inside of the leaf but leaves the walls mostly untouched. You can only see the frass (which is the larva's waste) in the very last part of the tunnel it digs.

Larvae have been found in April, May, July, and September. After they finish growing, they spin a brown cocoon. This cocoon is usually found among bits of leaves and other debris on the ground.