Waikato, in the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand. Samples from areas where the plant once grew in central parts of the region of Northland have not been checked to find evidence of mining to indicate presence of the moth. The plant has been transplanted to three other locations in Waikato in restoration projects done between 2006 and 2008, and a fourth location was naturally colonised and regenerated near the type locality, Torehape, by 2013. The moth appears to be also present at these four areas, and seems to have been translocated along with its hostplant. Ecology Habitat Its caterpillars feed on a plant which is restricted to relict areas of a type of habitat known as raised peat bogs. These once covered vastly more area than present, but have been drained and reduced for agriculture, or mined for fuel, after colonisation of the area. Of the areas where the plant formerly occurred, the moth has only been seen inland at central Waikato localities, not having been found in herbarium specimens of the plant taken from more coastal locations in Waikato and in the neighbouring northwestern Bay of Plenty region. Life cycle Adult moths are only on the wing from late Spring to mid-Summer, which, within the range of this species in the Southern Hemisphere, is late October to mid-December. H. flexilissima apparently has a two-year life cycle, because the moths emerge from their pupae whilst less mature caterpillar instars are still actively tunnelling. Food plant This species is only known from a single host plant. The larvae mine and pupate inside the living stems of Sporadanthus ferrugineus, a large endemic New Zealand rush-like marsh plant. Parasitoids Jo A. Berry was able to recover and identify three hymenopteran ectoparasitoids which feed on the caterpillars (or perhaps a parasitoid of the caterpillar in hyperparasitoids): a Sierola species, a Diaulomorpha species and either an Aprostocetus or an Ootetrastichus species. Conservation Because of its morphological distinctiveness, as well as threats to the habitat of its very local host plant S. ferrugineus, H. flexilissima is considered a species of high conservation status. In 2017 this moth was classified under the New Zealand Threat Classification system as being "At Risk, Relict". It has been recorded as present in the protected area Moanatuatua Scientific Reserve, Waikato region, New Zealand. References External links Houdinia flexilissima (Fred the Thread) discussed on RNZ Critter of the