Epimartyria auricrinella

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Epimartyria auricrinella
Epimartyria auricrinella.JPG
Epimartyria auricrinella1.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Micropterigidae
Genus: Epimartyria
Species:
E. auricrinella
Binomial name
Epimartyria auricrinella
Walsingham, 1898

Epimartyria auricrinella (goldcap moss-eater moth) is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It was described by Lord Walsingham. [1] It is known from the eastern parts of the United States (from Maine to Michigan and south to Tennessee and Georgia) as well as south-eastern Canada (from Nova Scotia to Ontario). [2] Its MONA number is 0001.

Bazzania trilobata, the host plant Bazzania trilobata.JPG
Bazzania trilobata , the host plant

The species occurs in shaded locations, in wet swampy woods, boggy ditches, or creek sides where leafy (moss-like) liverworts grow.

The length of the forewings is 4.2–5.6 mm. Adults are easily distinguished from those of the other members of the genus Epimartyria in possessing uniformly dark fuscous forewings without the yellowish spots present in those species. [3] Adults are diurnal. They can be seen perched on low foliage during the day and can be active even in early morning after sunrise. Mating takes place in the afternoon.

The larvae feed on the leafy, moss-like species of liverwort, including Bazzania trilobata . Full-grown larvae reach a length of 5 mm. They are generally brown in color, but lighter brown ventrally. They possess a plastron which indicates the capacity to live for short periods in a subaquatic environment or, at least in a habitat that is water-saturated. Larval development probably spans over two years.

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Sabatinca aurantissima is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the Nelson and Buller regions close to the coast and at lower altitudes. In appearance, the larvae has a distinctive pinkish-brown colour and at maturity can reach 8 mm in length. The adults are larger than many endemic species within the Sabatinca genus and have forewings that are highly reflective. These two features ensures it can be distinguished from S. aurella, a related species that is similar in appearance. The larvae feed on bryophytes.

Sabatinca weheka is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand where it can be found near Lake Matheson and also on Secretary Island. This species is very similar in appearance to S. heighwayi in both their larval and adult forms but the adults of S. weheka differ as they are darker and more strongly marked on the forewings and have a dark brownish base colour to their wings. This species is on the wing from the middle to the end of October and lives in forest with a high rainfall. The larval host species is the liverwort Plagiochila deltoidea.

References

  1. Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Epimartyria auricrinella". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index . Natural History Museum. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  2. microleps.org
  3. A review of the North American genus Epimartyria (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) with a discussion of the larval plastron Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.