TORTRICIDAE: Olethreutinae ⁶

Cryptaspasma querula (Meyrick, 1912). F.L. 8.5-13 mm. Endemic. Widespread & Abundant.

NZ’s only species in this genus is quite variable in size and the extent of yellow markings on the wing; the female is in general more plainly marked than the male.

Habitat, seasonality and behaviour ⁷

Native broadleaf and podocarp forest. Adults can be found in most months of the year. They can be disturbed by day from vegetation and later fly at night and come to light.

Life history ⁷

Examples of host plants include: Beilschmiedia tarairi; B.tawa; Prumnopitys ferruginea and Quercus robur . The caterpillars feed on the large seeds.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Maurice, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Maurice
2. (c) Uwe Schneehagen, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cryptaspasma_querula_172016085.jpg
3. George Vernon Hudson , no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig_36_MA_I437624_TePapa_Plate-XXV-The-butterflies_full_(cropped).jpg
4. George Vernon Hudson , no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig_37_MA_I437624_TePapa_Plate-XXV-The-butterflies_full_(cropped).jpg
5. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Steer
6. Adapted by Tony Steer from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptaspasma_querula
7. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNaturalist NZ taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Tortricid.net

iNaturalist NZ Map