Stigmella aigialeia

Last updated

Contents

Stigmella aigialeia
Stigmella aigialeia male holotype.png
Male holotype
Stigmella aigialeia 229871493.jpg
Larva mining leaf of host plant
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nepticulidae
Genus: Stigmella
Species:
S. aigialeia
Binomial name
Stigmella aigialeia
Donner & Wilkinson, 1989 [1]

Stigmella aigialeia is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on both the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and are known to feed on the leaves of Plagianthus divaricatus. Larvae have been recorded as feeding in April, May and September. They pupate in leaf litter on the ground under their host plant. Adults of this have been observed on the wing in January, February, September and October, in coastal locations particularly in the preferred habitat of its host plant, that is salt marshes and sandbanks.

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1989 by Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson from specimens collected in Auckland, Queen Charlotte Sound and Invercargill. [2] The male holotype specimen, collected at Huia Reserve on 29 September 1973 by B. M. May and emerged on the 23 October 1973, is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. [2] [3]

Description

Stigmella aigialeia Stigmella aigialeia by S. Thorpe.jpg
Stigmella aigialeia

The larvae of this species are pale yellow in colour and are approximately 3mm long. [2]

The wingspan of the adult moth is approximately 4 mm. The moth is grey in appearance with brown grey and then whitish forewings. The forewings have two black spots. The hindwings are grey in colour. [2] It is similar in appearance to the female of S. hoheriae but is much smaller. [2]

Distribution

S. aigialeia is endemic to New Zealand. [4] [5] This species can be found both in the North and South Islands. [2]

Biology and behaviour

Host plant Plagianthus divaricatus Plagianthus divaricatus by Sunita Singh.jpg
Host plant Plagianthus divaricatus

The larvae of this species mine the leaves of their host plant. [6]

Adults have been recorded in January, February, September and October. Probably in one but possibly in two generations per year. [2]

Habitat and host plants

The larvae feed on Plagianthus divaricatus and can therefore this species is found in the coastal habitat such as salt marshes and sandbanks which is favoured by that shrub. [6] [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Stigmella aliena</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella aliena is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has only been observed at Mount Arthur in the north western area of the South Island. This species is known only from the male holotype specimen. The larvae of this species are likely leaf miners, however the biology of this species is currently unknown, as is the female of this species. The adults are on the wing in December.

Stigmella atrata is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed on the North Island, South Island and Stewart Island. The larvae of this species are leaf miners of Brachyglottis elaeagnifolia and Brachyglottis rotundifolia and have been recorded in April, May, July and September. Larvae pupate on the ground in a cocoon. Adults have been observed on the wing in January, February, November and December. It has been hypothesised that there is probably only one generation per year.

<i>Stigmella cassiniae</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella cassiniae is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. The larvae are leaf miners of leaves and stems of Ozothamnus leptophyllus. When mature the larvae pupate amongst leaf litter on the ground. Adult moths have been recorded on the wing in January, February, April and October. It has been hypothesised that there are likely two generations in a year.

<i>Stigmella childi</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella childi is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. This species inhabits subalpine and alpine grassland and herbfields. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and feed on the leaves of Celmisia haastii. Adults have been observed on the wing in January.

<i>Stigmella cypracma</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella cypracma is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and pupate within their mines. The larval host species is Brachyglottis repanda. Adult moths are on the wing in February and September to November. This species has two generations per year.

<i>Stigmella erysibodea</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella erysibodea is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and feed on the leaves of Olearia ilicifolia and Olearia albida. Adults have been observed on the wing in November and February.

<i>Stigmella fulva</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella fulva is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island around Mount Taranaki, in the South Island and at Stewart Island. The species' eggs are laid singly but a considerable number may be deposited on the upper surface of one leaf. The incubation period can last from a week to a month depending on climatic conditions. The larvae mine the leaves of their host plants which are all in the genus Olearia. Larvae have been recorded in all months except January, February and June. The cocoon is brown and spun amongst the leaf litter under its host plant. The pupal period has been shown to range from 21 days to 79 days, again depending on climatic conditions. Adults have been observed on the wing January until March and August to December. They are active in the sun about their larval food plant.

Stigmella hakekeae is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North, South and Stewart Islands. The larvae feed on Olearia species and are leaf miners. This species pupates in a silk cocoon on the ground underneath its host plant. Adults are on the wing most months of year except for March and April. They have been observed flying during the day near their host plant. There are four or five generations per year. This species is regarded as being widely distributed and locally abundant.

<i>Stigmella hamishella</i> Species of moth

Stigmella hamishella is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. The larvae mine the leaves of Olearia moschata. The mine consists of blotches, mainly on the lower leaves. The preferred habitat of S. hamishella is the same as its host plant, montane to subalpine shrubland. Adults are on the wing in December.

<i>Stigmella hoheriae</i> Species of moth

Stigmella hoheriae is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. This day flying moth is found in New Zealand in both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest. Eggs are laid on the surface of a still growing leaf of a host plant. Larvae feed on Hoheria species such as Hoheria glabrata, Hoheria populnea, Hoheria sexstylosa and Hoheria angustifolia and have been recorded from February to August. The larvae of S. hoheriae are leaf miners. Their mines create blotches on the host plant leaves. S. hoheriae larvae pupate in a silk cocoon on the ground at the base of their food plant. Adult moths have been observed on the wing in February and from July to December. This species is rarely noticed as it is very small and as a result does not tend to attract attention when on the wing.

<i>Stigmella ilsea</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella ilsea is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and feed on Olearia virgata, Olearia rugosa, Olearia odorata, Olearia laxiflora, Olearia lineate and Olearia hectorii. The mine starts as very narrow gallery, but the full-grown larva occupies all space between the cuticles, leaving nothing but a small, empty bladder. Larvae have been recorded from February to May and in July and September. The cocoon is pale brown and is spun in detritus on the ground underneath the host plant. Adult moths have been recorded in January, October and November. Reared specimens emerged from July to September. There is likely one generation per year.

<i>Stigmella insignis</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella insignis is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Hawkes Bay as well as in the north west of the South Island. S. insignis inhabits montane to subalpine grasslands. The larvae of S. insignis are leaf miners. They likely feed on Celmisia spectabilis. Adults of this species have been observed on the wing in March, November and December.

<i>Stigmella kaimanua</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella kaimanua is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. S. kaimanua inhabits lowland and lower montane forest. The larvae mine the leaves of Parsonsia heterophylla. The mine is linear and continues down the stems for a short distance. Larvae have been observed April to August. The cocoon is probably attached to the leaf litter on the ground under the host plant. There is one generation per year. Adults are on the wing in November and December and are attracted to light.

Stigmella laqueorum is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has only been found on Snares Islands / Tini Heke. The egg is laid on the underside leaf. Larvae are leaf miners. The mine is narrow, serpentine, rather scribble-like and close to the upper epidermal layer, widening terminally. There may be up to 20 mines per leaf. Larvae are present in all months. The cocoon is attached to fallen large debris or trunk bases. Adults have been recorded on the wing from late November to February. They are diurnal, flying only in the morning. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Stigmella lucida</i> Species of moth

Stigmella lucida is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Stigmella ogygia</i> Species of moth

Stigmella ogygia is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is found in New Zealand.

Stigmella platina is a species of moth in the family Nepticulidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Stigmella progama</i> Species of moth

Stigmella progama is a species of moth in the family Nepticulidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation. S. progama has only been collected on Bold Peak in Otago.

Stigmella tricentra is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is found in New Zealand.

<i>Stigmella watti</i> Species of moth

Stigmella watti is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is found in New Zealand.

References

  1. 1 2 Erik J van Nieukerken; Camiel Doorenweerd; Robert J B Hoare; Donald R Davis (31 October 2016). "Revised classification and catalogue of global Nepticulidae and Opostegidae (Lepidoptera, Nepticuloidea)". ZooKeys . 628 (628): 65–246. doi: 10.3897/ZOOKEYS.628.9799 . ISSN   1313-2989. PMC   5126388 . PMID   27917038. Wikidata   Q28109648.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hans Donner; Christopher Wilkinson (28 April 1989). "Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 16. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 17. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.16. ISSN   0111-5383. OCLC   924829916. Wikidata   Q45079930. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2021.
  3. "Alphabetical list by species". Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  4. "Stigmella aigialeia Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  5. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 461. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  6. 1 2 "Stigmella aigialeia Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-09-28.