Micrurapteryx occulta

Last updated

Micrurapteryx occulta
Micrurapteryx occulta.JPG
Micrurapteryx albicostella.JPG
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gracillariidae
Genus: Micrurapteryx
Species:
M. occulta
Binomial name
Micrurapteryx occulta
(Braun, 1922)
Synonyms
  • Parectopa occultaBraun, 1922
  • Parectopa albicostellaBraun, 1925

Micrurapteryx occulta is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is recorded from across North America in the northern half of the continent, in Canada from the Maritime Provinces (Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia) to British Columbia, north to northernmost Yukon. In the United States it has been found in Connecticut, Kentucky, Illinois, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. [1] The habitat consists of meadows, the edge of forests, open ponderosa pine forests, alpine meadows, the sea shore, and probably other habitats, from sea level to high elevations in the mountains, where suitable hosts occur.

The wingspan is 8.7–11.7 mm. The forewing pattern is very similar to that of Micrurapteryx gradatella , but rather variable: in several specimens, the dark portion of disk has pale-based, dark-tipped scales giving the appearance of pale suffusion. The white dorsal margin in some specimens is obscured by suffusion of dark-tipped scales and the terminal portion between strigulae 4 and 5 and around the apical spot is rufous in specimens with white costa and margin. The forewings of darker specimens have an overall peppery appearance.

The larvae feed on Lathyrus japonicus , Melilotus albus , Vicia caroliniana , Lupinus and Caragana species. [2] They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of an irregular, somewhat digitate greenish mine, starting over the midrib, where the mine is whitish.

Related Research Articles

<i>Apamea crenata</i> Species of moth

Apamea crenata, known as the clouded-bordered brindle, is a moth in the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout the Palearctic realm. In the North it crosses the Arctic Circle, in the Mediterranean it is found only in cool locations and mountains avoiding very hot areas. In the Alps, it rises to an altitude of about 2000 metres.

<i>Colotis etrida</i> Species of butterfly

Colotis etrida, the little orange tip, is a species of butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is native to India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

<i>Cepora nadina</i> Species of butterfly

Cepora nadina, the lesser gull, is a small to medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites. The species was first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1852. It is native to Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Hainan, and southeast Asia.

<i>Lampides boeticus</i> Species of butterfly

Lampides boeticus, the pea blue, or long-tailed blue, is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or gossamer-winged family.

<i>Tanaecia lepidea</i> Species of butterfly

Tanaecia lepidea, the grey count, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South and Southeast Asia.

<i>Arhopala bazaloides</i> Species of butterfly

Arhopala bazaloides, the Tamil oakblue, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia. Also known as Lycaenidae, they are members of the superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. This family has approximately 4,700 species that are unevenly distributed throughout the world, however the distribution of the Tamil oakblue is limited only to India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

<i>Micrurapteryx gradatella</i> Species of moth

Micrurapteryx gradatella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found from Fennoscandia to the Iberian Peninsula, the Alps and Romania and from Germany to central Russia, as well as in Tajikistan, the Urals, Siberia, and the Russian Far East.

<i>Macarostola miniella</i> Species of moth

Macarostola miniella is a species of moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is only found in the North Island and the adult moths have two different colour variations.

Caloptilia glutinella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. The species was first described by Charles Russell Ely in 1915.

<i>Amblyptilia epotis</i> Species of plume moth, endemic to New Zealand

Amblyptilia epotis is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South and Stewart Islands. It inhabits mountainous terrain covered in alpine vegetation or alternatively alpine wetland habitat. The adults of this species are on the wing from February to March. In appearance the adults of this species are variable in colour however this species can be distinguished from similar species by the oblique apical streak on its forewings as well as the patch of white on the costa cilia towards the apex of the forewing.

<i>Ichneutica lissoxyla</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica lissoxyla is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the central and southern parts of the North Island and in most parts of the South Island. The species prefers snowgrass habitat in the alpine zone. I. lissoxyla is similar in appearance to I. paraxysta but can be distinguished as I. lissoxyla lack the black streaks on the forewings that can be found on the latter species and the male I. lissoxyla also has longer pectinations on antennae. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. Adults are on the wing from January to April and are attracted to the light.

<i>Ichneutica omoplaca</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica omoplaca is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is widespread from the Bay of Plenty in the North Island down to Southland in the South Island. Specimens have also been collected from the Auckland Islands. It lives in a variety of habitats including beech forest clearings and tussock grasslands. This species has been recorded that some of the larval hosts of this species include Poa cita, Dactylis glomerata and it has been reared on Plantago lanceolata. The larva is undescribed but pupae have been found in a pine plantation in soil under weeds. Adults of this species are on the wing from October to March. The adult moths are variable in appearance but the diagnostic feature is the pale ochreous to white colouring between the basal streak and the costa which contrasts with the ground colour of the forewing.

<i>Ichneutica pelanodes</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica pelanodes is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in scattered locations in the North, South and Stewart Islands. I. pelanodes is easily confused with I. skelloni as the two species are visually extremely similar. In the North Island though the range of the two species appears not to overlap. Generally of the two species I. pelanodes tends to be darker in appearance. I. pelanodes inhabits wetlands but the life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae. Adults are on the wing from October to February and are attracted both to sugar and light traps.

Bucculatrix arnicella is a species of moth in the family Bucculatricidae. The species was first described in 1925 by Annette Frances Braun. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Utah, Montana, Alberta and Wyoming. The habitat consists of open lodgepole pine and Douglas fir forests.

<i>Micrurapteryx caraganella</i> Species of moth

Micrurapteryx caraganella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in Siberia, and possibly Tajikistan and the Russian Far East.

<i>Ichneutica paraxysta</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica paraxysta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is very similar in appearance to its close relative I. acontistis but as the range of the two species do not overlap this is unlikely to cause confusion. I. paraxysta is only found in the North Island at the subalpine zones in the Mount Taranaki region and at Mount Ruapehu. It prefers tussock grassland and shrubland habitat. The life history of this species is unknown as are the host species of its larvae however it has been hypothesised that the larval host plants are species in the genera of Poa and Festuca.

<i>Ichneutica epiastra</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica epiastra is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species prefers open habitats such as wetlands, dunes and forest clearings. Eggs are laid in the summer or autumn and larvae feed during winter and spring. The larval host species are found within the genus Austroderia. The adult moths are on the wing between October to February. Adult I. epiastra can possibly be confused with the similar species I. arotis and I. haedifrontella however there are differences in appearance that enables I. epiastra to be distinguished from these two species. In particular I. epiastra has long sharp-tipped ‘horns' on its head that are diagnostic. The adults of this species appear reluctant to be attracted to light although they do come more frequently to the brighter mercury vapour traps.

<i>Ichneutica panda</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica panda is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and only found in central and southern parts of the South Island. The species has not been collected in Canterbury since the late 1950s and has not been seen at The Wilderness scientific reserve since 1941. This species is similar in appearance to Ichneutica falsidica however I. panda lack or have indistinct black dashes on their edge of their hindwings. I. panda inhabit shrubland from alpine zones down to river terraces and adults are on the wing between December to February. The life history of this species is unknown as is the host species of the larvae.

<i>Proteodes melographa</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Proteodes melographa is a species of moth in the family Depressariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at Mount Arthur and in the Nelson District. It inhabits forest in the alpine zone. The larvae of this species feeds on native beech trees.

<i>Trachypepla protochlora</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla protochlora is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest and adults are on the wing from October until February. Adults can be variable in their green shaded colour as well as in the intensity of markings on their forewings. The greenish ground colouration of this moth ensures they are well camouflaged when at rest on green mosses and lichens.

References