Enteucha acetosae

Last updated

Enteucha acetosae
04.001 BF118 Enteucha acetosae (5815497985).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nepticulidae
Genus: Enteucha
Species:
E. acetosae
Binomial name
Enteucha acetosae
(Stainton, 1854)
Synonyms
List
    • Nepticula acetosaeStainton, 1854
    • Johanssonia acetosae(Stainton, 1854)
    • Johanssoniella acetosae(Stainton, 1854)
    • Nepticula arifoliellaKlimesch, 1940

Enteucha acetosae, the pygmy sorrel moth, is a moth of the family Nepticulidae found in Europe. It is one of the smallest moths in the world with some having a wingspan of only 3mm. The larvae mine the leaves of docks ( Rumex species), leaving bright red tissue around the mines.

Contents

Life history

The wingspan is 3–4 mm. (one of the world's smallest moths). [1] The head is fuscous to blackish. The antennal eyecaps are whitish. The forewings are shining bronze with a broad shining silvery fascia at 3/4, preceded by a fuscous suffusion. The apical area beyond this rather dark purplish-fuscous. The hindwings are grey. [2] [3] [4]

There are two to three generations in western and central Europe.

Ovum

Eggs are laid on the underside of common sorrel ( Rumex acetosa ), sheep's sorrel ( Rumex acetosella ) and French sorrel ( Rumex scutatus ). [5] [6]

Larvae
Enteucha acetosae mines Enteucha acetosae mines, Harlech, North Wales, Sept 2004 (20971573822).jpg
Enteucha acetosae mines

Larvae are pale amber/yellow with a greenish gut. The head is pale amber with a faint brown tinge. [5] They mine the leaves of their host plant. [6]

Pupa

Pupation is outside of the mine in a white cocoon, spun on detritus, which turns yellow as it ages. [5] [6] [7]

Distribution

The moth is found in Europe, from Sweden to the Pyrenees, Alps and Serbia and from Ireland to Romania. [8]

Etymology

Enteucha acetosae was described by the English entomologist, Henry Tibbats Stainton in 1854, from a specimen found in Dublin, Ireland. It was originally placed in the genus Nepticula , moved to Johanssonia and at present, Enteucha ; which was raised by Edward Meyrick in 1915. The specific name acetosae refers to one of the food plants Rumex acetosa. [9]

References

  1. ↑ Kimber, Ian. "Enteucha acetosae (Stainton, 1854)". UKmoths. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  2. ↑ Meyrick, E., A Handbook of British Lepidoptera . London: MacMillan, 1895.
  3. ↑ Lepiforum includes images PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. ↑ Zagulajev, A.K., 1987 Nepticulidae (Stigmellidae); in G.S. Medvedev (ed.): Keys to the insects of the europaean part of the USSR, Vol.IV: Lepidoptera, part 1 (english translation), Oxonian Press Pvt.Ltd., New Dehli, 1987
  5. 1 2 3 Emmet, A M (1983). Nepticulidae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 1. Colchester: Harley Books. p. 266. ISBN   0-946589-15-1.
  6. 1 2 3 Ellis, W N. "Enteucha acetosae (Stainton, 1854) sorrel pigmy". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Emmet, A E (1988). A Field Guide to the Smaller British Lepidoptera (Second ed.). London: British Entomological and Natural History Society. p. 31. ISBN   0-9502891-6-7.
  8. ↑ "Enteucha acetosae (Stainton, 1854)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Emmet, A Maitland (1991). The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera. Their history and meaning. Colchester: Harley Books. p. 48. ISBN   0-946589-35-6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.