Bug FAQCryptaspasma querula
Cryptaspasma querula · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
Cryptaspasma querula is a moth native to New Zealand that lives in podocarp and broadleaf forests. Adults are variable in size and yellow wing markings, with dark fuscous heads, palpi, and thorax, and they are active most months and attracted to light at night.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The head, palpi and thorax are dark brownish-gray. Forewings are elongated triangular, purplish-bronzy-fuscous with dark streaks and a whitish dot near two-thirds of the wing. Hindwings are fuscous, sometimes with faint darker streaks; males have no special markings.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults vary in overall size and in the extent of yellow markings on the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Adults sometimes fly into houses and may rest on human-made structures during daylight.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It inhabits podocarp and broadleaf forest and can be found resting on fences or inside houses during the day.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Larvae pupate in leaf litter beneath their host trees.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing during most months of the year and are nocturnal, attracted to light.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is endemic to New Zealand and occurs throughout the country.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Females tend to be more plainly coloured than males, and wing markings can vary widely.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I identify Cryptaspasma querula?
Look for a small moth with dark brownish-gray head and thorax, elongated triangular forewings that are purplish-bronzy-fuscous with dark streaks and a whitish dot near two-thirds of the wing; size and yellow markings can vary.
Source: Wikipedia
Where might I find this moth in my garden?
It is found in podocarp and broadleaf forest areas and may rest on fences or other structures during the day, sometimes entering houses.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Tortricidae)
Oblique-banded Leafroller MothChoristoneura rosaceanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden TortrixClepsis peritanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common MarbleSyricoris lacunanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Red-banded Leafroller MothArgyrotaenia velutinanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Light Brown Apple MothEpiphyas postvittanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Filbertworm MothCydia latiferreanaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptaspasma_querula
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.