About Eudonia aspidota Meyrick
Eudonia aspidota Meyrick has a wingspan of 22–26 mm. Its forewings are light ochreous, and are sometimes mixed with reddish-ochreous. A black, white-margined triangular spot is present on the forewing costa. The hindwings are pale grey, with darker grey post medial and hind marginal lines. While the wing markings of this species draw attention, they also imitate bird droppings. This form of mimicry provides protection for E. aspidota when it is not flying. Eudonia aspidota is endemic to New Zealand. Edward Meyrick originally recorded that the species could be found in Wellington, Castle Hill, Mount Hutt, Dunedin and Lake Wakatipu. George Hudson expanded the list of known localities for E. aspidota, adding Raurimu, Waimarino, Buller River, Invercargill and Stewart Island. Hudson believed the species was probably distributed across all of New Zealand. This species lives in forest habitats. The larvae of Eudonia aspidota feed and develop on mosses.
