Stigmella maoriella is a species of moth in the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Not Threatened by the Department of Conservation. Taxonomy This species was described by Francis Walker in 1864 and named Tinea maoriella using a specimen collected by Lt Col Daniel Bolton, RE. In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned the species to the genus Stigmella. The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. Description Walker described the species as follows: Distribution This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found from Auckland to Hawke's Bay. It can be differentiated from its close relatives S. ogygia and S. hakekeae as S. maoriella lacks the large cornutus on the aedeagus of the male of the species. S. maoriella is also larger than S. ilsea. Habitat and host species The larvae of this species feed on Olearia species. Conservation Status This species has been classified as being "Not Threatened" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. References Nepticulidae Moths of New Zealand Moths described in 1864 Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist) Endemic moths of New Zealand