# Stigmella childi

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***Stigmella childi*** is a species of [moth](/source/Moth) of the family [Nepticulidae](/source/Nepticulidae).[2] It is endemic to [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) and has been observed in the southern parts of the [South Island](/source/South_Island). This species inhabits subalpine and alpine grassland and herbfields. The larvae of this species are [leaf miners](/source/Leaf_miner) and feed on the leaves of *[Celmisia haastii](/source/Celmisia_haastii)*. Adults have been observed on the wing in January.

## Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1989 by Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson from specimens collected in [Fiordland](/source/Fiordland).[3] The male [holotype](/source/Holotype) specimen, collected at Lake McKenzie in the [Murchison Mountains](/source/Murchison_Mountains), at 1200 m altitude on the 10 January 1984 by B.H. Patrick, is held in the [New Zealand Arthropod Collection](/source/New_Zealand_Arthropod_Collection).[3]

## Description

Donner and Wilkinson described the adult male of this species as follows:

Head. Frontal tuft and scape rusty brown; collar brown-grey; antenna brownishgrey, comprising 30 segments. Thorax grey-brown. Forewing about 2 mm long, grey brown, lustrous, reflecting gold; fringe grey. Hindwing and fringe pale grey. Abdomen brown-grey.[3]

They described the adult female of the species as follows:

Head. Frontal tuft orange; scape and collar buff. Thorax buff. Forewing buff, lustrous, reflecting silver, with a terminal dark grey area. Abdomen buff.[3]

## Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island.[4][5][3]

## Habitat

This species inhabits subalpine and alpine grassland and herbfields, the preferred habitat of their host plant.[3]

## Behaviour

The larvae of this species mine the leaves of their host plant.[3] Adults are on the wing in January.

## Host

The larvae feed on the leaves of *[Celmisia haastii](/source/Celmisia_haastii)*.[6]

## References

1. ["Stigmella childi Donner & Wilkinson, 1989"](https://biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz/scientific-names/805b4b63-2237-450d-bf0a-0c0ca960b6ff). *biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz*. Retrieved 2023-10-04.

1. Wikidata item [Q28109648](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28109648)

1. Wikidata item [Q45079930](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45079930)

1. Wikidata item [Q45922947](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45922947)

1. ["Stigmella childi Donner & Wilkinson, 1989"](http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/0963b8e9-18f1-4757-a203-bfa554a05d02). *www.nzor.org.nz*. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-07-12.

1. ["PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database"](https://plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz/DetailsForm.aspx?Type=H&RecordId=49&LSID=NAM50048). *plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz*. Retrieved 2018-07-12.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stigmella childi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella_childi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella_childi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.