Stigmella hoheriae

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Stigmella hoheriae
Stigmella hoheriae male holotype.png
Male holotype
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nepticulidae
Genus: Stigmella
Species:
S. hoheriae
Binomial name
Stigmella hoheriae
Donner & Wilkinson, 1989

Stigmella hoheriae is a species of moth of the family Nepticulidae. [1] 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1989 by Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson from specimens collected in the Auckland, Rangitiikei, Mid Canterbury, Mackenzie, Fiordland and Otago regions. The male holotype specimen, collected at Te Rau-o-te-Huia / Mount Donald McLean in the Waitākere Ranges, Auckland, emerged 17 August 1976 "ex Hoheria populnea ", by J. S. Dugdale. [2]

Description

The larvae of this species are 2–3 mm long and pale transparent green. [2]

Donner and Wilkinson described the male of the species as follows:

Head. Frontal tuft and scape cream; collar brownish cream; antenna brown, comprising 45-52 segments. Thorax brown. Forewing 3-4 mm long, brown, lustrous, reflecting gold, with a small spot at dorsum medially varying from clearly present to almost absent; fringe grey. Hindwing and fringe grey, lustrous, reflecting platinum. Abdomen greyish brown. [2]

They described the female as follows:

As for male, but forewing 4 mm long, brown, iridescent, reflecting purple, with anal half white for three-quarters of length. [2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [3] [4] [5] S. hoheriae is found in both the North and South Islands and is very common throughout New Zealand. [2]

Life history

Eggs

The females lay eggs on the surface of a still growing leaf of their host plant. [2]

Larvae

Larval mine of S. hoheriae on a Hoheria populnea leaf. Stigmella hoheriae 66616236.jpg
Larval mine of S. hoheriae on a Hoheria populnea leaf.

Larva have been recorded from February to August. They mine the leaves of their host plant.

Adults

Adult moths have been observed on the wing in the wild in February and July—December. [2]

Behaviour

Adults are day flying and are most commonly on the wing from August to November. [6] It is likely there are two generations per year. [2] The species is rarely noticed as the adults are very small and as a result does not tend to attract attention. [6]

Habitat and host species

This species inhabits native forest habitat. [6] The larvae feed on Hoheria species such as Hoheria glabrata , Hoheria populnea , Hoheria sexstylosa and Hoheria angustifolia . [7] [2]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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<i>Anisoplaca achyrota</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Anisoplaca achyrota is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been observed in both the North and South Islands and inhabits native forest. The larvae of this species feed on the green seeds of Hoheria angustifolia and as such is regarded as an indicator species for mature native forest. The adults of the species are commonly on the wing from December until February and are attracted to light.

References

  1. 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 9 Hans Donner; Christopher Wilkinson (28 April 1989). "Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 16. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 24–25. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.16. ISSN   0111-5383. OCLC   924829916. Wikidata   Q45079930. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2021.
  3. "Stigmella hoheriae Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  4. 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.
  5. "Stigmella hoheriae Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  6. 1 2 3 Hoare, Robert J. B. (2014). A photographic guide to moths & butterflies of New Zealand. Ball, Olivier. Auckland: New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd. p. 18. ISBN   9781869663995. OCLC   891672034.
  7. "PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-07-12.