Sabatinca aurella

The larvae of this species are variable in appearance but tend to be coloured yellow-green with greyish patches. Hudson described the adults of this species as follows:

The expansion of the wings is 7⁄16 inch. The fore wings, which have the costa very abruptly arched at the base and the termen very oblique, are bright, golden-ochreuus with the veins well marked and deeply depressed; there is a large crimson-orange-metallic basal patch, purple on the costa; a curved transverse band at about 1⁄3 deep crimson-purple-metallic on the costa, metallic-blue below the middle, and crimson on the dorsum; another narrower band at about 1⁄3, deep purple on the costa, thence brilliant metallic-blue to the dorsum; two long costal bars beyond this, purple on the costa, pale metallic-blue towards the disc; an irregular confluent series of crimson and metallic-blue spots on the termen; the cilia are golden-ochreous. The hind wings are blackish with strong purple reflections. The head and thorax are clothed with long rusty-orange hairs. The abdomen is blackish. The antennae are orange, black towards the apex. A "pale shining golden" species, these moths have a forewing length of between 4.2 and 5.2mm. The wing patterns of S. aurella are regarded as being the most "straightforward" of New Zealand species in this genus. The forewing pattern is similar to that of Sabatinca doroxena.

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is one of New Zealand's most frequently encountered jaw-moths, this species is found from as far North as the Coromandel Peninsula to as far South as Fox Glacier.

This species is on the wing from the beginning of September until the end of January. It is most common from mid-November to the end of December.