Stathmopoda campylocha
Stathmopoda campylocha is a species of moth in the family Stathmopodidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation. Taxonomy. This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1889 using specimens collected in Wellington and Dunedin in January. The type specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London and the type locality is recorded as being "Dunedin, New Zealand". Description. Meyrick described the species as follows: Distribution. This species is endemic to New Zealand. Historically this species occurred at Wellington and Dunedin, and in 1915 Charles E.  Clarke collected a specimen in mid December at Silverstream, Upper Hutt. A further specimen was collected in early February in 1932 in the Pohangina Forest Reserve and was used by George Vernon Hudson to create an illustration of the species. In more recent times "S. campylocha" has been found to be present in western and eastern Otago including in the Matukituki Valley. Ecology and habitat. Meyrick collected his specimens amongst forest and Hudson concurred that the species frequents forest habitat. Host species. In 2000 Brian H. Patrick discovered that "S. campylocha" is associated with the nationally endangered plant "Olearia hectorii . Patrick was unable to locate S. campylocho" larvae feeding but he hypothesised that they are likely detritivores or alternatively that they feed on scale insects. He also suggested other possible host plants might be "Olearia fimbriata", "Olearia lineata", "Olearia bullata" or "Olearia fragrantissima". Plant-SyNZ indicates "Olearia virgata" as another possible host plant, attributed to Patrick (2000). Conservation Status. In 1939 Hudson stated that "S. campylocha" was regarded as being extremely rare. This species has been given the "Nationally Critical" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.