Epicephala parasitica

Last updated

Epicephala parasitica
Epicephala parasitica.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gracillariidae
Genus: Epicephala
Species:
E. anthophilia
Binomial name
Epicephala anthophilia
Kawakita A, Kato M, 2016

Epicephala anthophilia is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found on the Ryukyu Archipelago.

Ovipositing in young fruit of Phyllanthus lepidocarpus Epicephala parasitica living.JPG
Ovipositing in young fruit of Phyllanthus lepidocarpus

The wingspan is 5.7–7.5 mm. The forewings of the females are dark brown with a narrow white band on the dorsum from the base to 1/4 of the entire length, medially with a narrow white band extending from the costa to the dorsum and with a pair of narrow white bands beginning at the costal and dorsal margin near 2/3 of the wing and extending obliquely toward the wing apex, terminating before reaching mid-width of the wing. There is a narrow silver band with metallic reflection extending from the costa to the dorsum at 5/6 length and the distal 1/6 is brown with a black dot centrally. The distal end is fringed with a narrow white band and terminating with a narrow black band. The hindwings of the females are dark brown. The forewings of the males are brown with a narrow white band on the dorsum from the base to 2/3 of the entire length and with three pairs of narrow white bands beginning at the costal and dorsal margin near 1/2 to 3/4 length of the wing and extending obliquely toward the wing apex, terminating before reaching mid-width of the wing. There is a narrow silver band with metallic reflection extending from the costa to the dorsum at 5/6 length and the distal 1/6 is orange-brown with a black dot centrally, franked by a short white band near the dorsum. The distal end is fringed with a narrow white band and terminating with a narrow brown band. The hindwings of the males are brown.

The larvae feed on the seeds of Phyllanthus lepidocarpus .

Etymology

The species name refers to the parasitic nature of the species and is derived from Latin parasiticus (meaning parasitic). [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cosmopterix adrastea</i> Species of moth from Cuba

Cosmopterix adrastea is a moth of the family Cosmopterigidae. It is known from Cuba.

<i>Cosmopterix astrapias</i> Species of moth from the Americas

Cosmopterix astrapias is a moth of the family Cosmopterigidae. It is known from the United States, Argentina, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico (Tabasco) and Puerto Rico.

<i>Cosmopterix lespedezae</i> Species of moth

Cosmopterix lespedezae is a moth of the family Cosmopterigidae. It is known from the United States.

<i>Cosmopterix lummyae</i> Species of moth

Cosmopterix lummyae is a moth of the family Cosmopterigidae. It is known from the Federal District of Brazil and from Colombia.

<i>Cosmopterix montisella</i> Species of moth

Cosmopterix montisella is a moth of the family Cosmopterigidae. It is known from the United States, where it is found from New York and Oregon south to New Mexico, Arizona and California. Single specimens have been collected in Arkansas and Iowa. The species is now also established in Michigan.

<i>Cosmopterix teligera</i> Species of moth

Cosmopterix teligera is a moth of the family Cosmopterigidae. It is known from the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica and Mexico (Tamaulipas).

<i>Pebobs ipomoeae</i> Species of moth

Pebobs ipomoeae is a moth of the family Cosmopterigidae. It is known from Florida.

<i>Epicephala microcarpa</i> Species of moth

Epicephala microcarpa is a moth of the family Gracillariidae first described by Hou-Hun Li in 2015. It is found in the Chinese regions of Guangxi and Hainan and in Mumbai, India.

<i>Epicephala laeviclada</i> Species of moth

Epicephala laeviclada is a moth of the family Gracillariidae first described by Hou-Hun Li in 2015. It is found in the Chinese provinces of Guangxi and Hainan.

<i>Epicephala tertiaria</i> Species of moth

Epicephala tertiaria is a moth of the family Gracillariidae first described by Hou-Hun Li in 2015. It is found in the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi.

<i>Epicephala domina</i> Species of moth

Epicephala domina is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in China (Hainan).

<i>Epicephala impolliniferens</i> Species of moth

Epicephala impolliniferens is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in China (Hainan).

<i>Epicephala camurella</i> Species of moth

Epicephala camurella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in China (Hainan).

<i>Epicephala angustisaccula</i> Species of moth

Epicephala angustisaccula is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in China (Hainan).

<i>Epicephala anthophilia</i> Species of moth

Epicephala anthophilia is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found on a few islands with high elevation in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Amami Island and Okinawa Island). The host plant, Glochidion acuminatum is distributed throughout Southeast Asia from southern Japan to India, so this species is likely to be found in other parts of the host plant's range.

<i>Epicephala lanceolatella</i> Species of moth

Epicephala lanceolatella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found on the Ryukyu Archipelago.

<i>Epicephala perplexa</i> Species of moth

Epicephala perplexa is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found on the Ryukyu Archipelago.

<i>Epicephala obovatella</i> Species of moth

Epicephala obovatella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in the warm temperate to subtropical regions of Japan and in Taiwan.

<i>Epicephala corruptrix</i> Species of moth

Epicephala corruptrix is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found on the Ryukyu Archipelago.

<i>Epicephala nudilingua</i> Species of moth

Epicephala nudilingua is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from three populations in Tochigi, Tokyo and Oita Prefecture, Japan. The host plant is widespread in the temperate regions of Japan and other parts of East Asia, so the species is likely to be found elsewhere.

References