''Calicotis crucifera'', the leather-leaf spore-eater, is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

of the

Stathmopodidae Stathmopodidae is a family of moths in the moth superfamily Gelechioidea described by Edward Meyrick in 1913. Taxonomy and systematics *'' Actinoscelis'' Meyrick, 1912 *'' Aeoloscelis'' Meyrick, 1897 *'' Arauzona'' Walker, 865/small> *'' Atrijug ...

family. It is found in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Description

The mature larva of ''C. crucifera'' are approximately 6mm long and are a white colour, plump with a pale brown head. The wings of the adult are grey with dark specks.

Behaviour

The larvae of this species can be observed on the underneath of the fronds of its host species. The larva builds silk tubes disguised with fern spore dust and white frond hair. They feed on the fern spores.Factsheet: Leather-leaf spore-eater
/ref> Larvae can be seen most months of the year. The adult is on the wing from January to May.

Host plant

The larvae feed on the spores of the fern, '' Pyrrosia eleagnifolia''.

References

Moths described in 1889 Stathmopodidae Moths of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Moths of Australia {{Stathmopodidae-stub