Stigmella kaimanua facts for kids

The Stigmella kaimanua is a tiny moth that belongs to a family called Nepticulidae. This special moth can only be found in New Zealand, which means it's endemic there. It's a small but interesting part of New Zealand's nature!

About the Kaimanua Moth

The Stigmella kaimanua is a very small moth. It's part of a group of moths known as Nepticulidae. These moths are often tiny. This particular moth is special because it only lives in New Zealand. When an animal or plant only lives in one place, we say it is endemic to that area.

What Does It Look Like?

This little moth has forewings that are about 3 mm long. That's about the size of a small ant! Adult moths have been seen flying around in November and December.

The Kaimanua Moth's Life Cycle

The Stigmella kaimanua moth usually has one generation each year. This means that from egg to adult, the whole life cycle happens once in a year.

Tiny Miners: Larvae and Their Food

The young moths, called larvae, are like tiny miners. They are 3 to 4 mm long and are whitish-yellow in color. These larvae eat the leaves of a plant called Parsonsia heterophylla. This plant is their host plant, meaning it's where they live and get their food.

The larvae don't just eat the leaves from the outside. They mine the leaves! This means they dig tunnels inside the leaf tissue. Their tunnels, called galleries, are linear, like a straight line. They are found inside the leaf, often near the main vein, which is called the midrib. Sometimes, the tunnel even goes a short way down the plant's stem. Larvae have been found from April to August.

Growing Up: From Larva to Moth

After the larvae have grown enough, they form a cocoon. A cocoon is a protective case where the larva changes into an adult moth. Scientists believe that the cocoon of the Stigmella kaimanua moth is probably attached to dead plant material or other bits and pieces on the ground.