Stigmella lucida

Stigmella lucida is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae.  It is endemic to New Zealand.

Description
The length of the forewings is about 3 mm. Adults have been recorded in January and from September to December. There are one or two generations per year.

Behaviour
The larvae mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine starts close to the midrib near the stem as a narrow gallery. At first, only the lower part of the leaf tissue is eaten, but gradually, as the mine becomes wider, it reaches both cuticular layers. The frass is deposited in the middle of the mine, later filling all space. Larva have been recorded from May to August and in October and November. They are about 3 mm long and pale green.

The cocoon is made of white to pale brown silk and is constructed amidst foliage and branches of the food plant.

Host species
The larvae feed on Nothofagus menziesii.