Stigmella progonopis
Stigmella progonopis is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1921. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species inhabits montane to subalpine native forest and shrubland. Larvae are leaf miners and have been recorded from April to August. They feed on Dracophyllum traversii, Dracophyllum longifolium, Dracophyllum menziesii, ''Dracophyllum latifolium and Gaultheria crassa.'' Adults are on the wing in January and February and there is one generation per year.
Taxonomy
S. progonopis was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1921 using a specimen collected by George Hudson on the main spur of Mount [Arthur (New Zealand)|Mount Arthur] at the bush line at 4000 ft and originally named Nepticula progonopis. In 1928 George Hudson discussed and illustrated that species under that name in his book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1988 John S. Dugdale placed Nepticula ogygia in the genus Stigmella. In 1989 Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson agreed with this placement in their monograph on New Zealand Nepticulidae. This placement was again confirmed in a 2016 revision of the global species placed in the family Nepticulidae. The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural [History Museum, London].Description
The larvae of this species are coloured a pale yellow.Donner and Christopher described the leaf mine of the larva of this species as follows:
The cocoon is made of brown coloured silk and is placed in between the tightly packed stalks of older leaves on the plant shoot.
Meyrick described the adult male of this species as follows:
The female is similar in appearance to the male but is of smaller size.