Stigmella insignis

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Stigmella insignis
Stigmella insignis female paratype.png
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nepticulidae
Genus: Stigmella
Species:
S. insignis
Binomial name
Stigmella insignis
(Philpott, 1927) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Nepticula insignisPhilpott, 1927

Stigmella insignis is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. [3] 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1927 using three male specimens he collected at Salisbury's Opening on the Mount Arthur Tableland at 4,000 ft. in November. [4] Philpott originally named the species Nepticula insignis. [4] [2] In 1939 George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his book A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. [2] [5] In 1988 J. S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Stigmella. [2] This placement was confirmed by Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson in 1989. [6] The male holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. [2]

Description

Illustration of male S. insignis by George Hudson. Fig 24 MA I437922 TePapa Plate-LXI-A-supplement full (cropped).jpg
Illustration of male S. insignis by George Hudson.

Philpott described this species as follows:

n. sp. ♂. 5–6 mm Head white, sometimes ochreous tinged. Antennae fuscous, eye-cap whitish. Thorax ochreous. Abdomen dark fuscous. Forewings white with much admixture of ochreous, especially on basal portion and in disc; a black spot on fold at ¼, sometimes absent; a prominent black spot in disc at ½,. usually elongate; a black spot, large or small, before apex; fringes fuscous-grey with several rows of ochreous points round apex and termen. Hindwings and fringes fuscous-grey. [4]

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

Head. Frontal tuft, scape, and collar white; antenna grey-brown, comprising about 35 segments, lustrous, reflecting purple and copper. Thorax silvery white. Forewing about 3.5 mm long, silvery white with scattered yellow scales; a small, postbasal black spot sometimes extending caudally and anally, and a distal black spot varying from almost absent to covering terminal fifth of wing; fringe silvery grey. Hindwing silvery grey; fringe concolorous. Abdomen silvery brown. [6]

The female is visually similar to the male with the exception of their antenna which have 28 segments. [6] S. insignis is larger than the similar species S. oriastra and lacks the orange forewing scales of S. laqueorum . [6]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [7] [1] This species has been observed in the Hawkes Bay as well as in the north west of the South Island. [6]

Behaviour

Adults have been recorded in March, November and December. [6]

Habitat and hosts

Leaves of likely host species C. spectabilis. Celmisia spectabilis spectabilis 300696006.jpg
Leaves of likely host species C. spectabilis.

S. insignis inhabits montane to subalpine grasslands. [6] The larvae probably feed on Celmisia spectabilis . [8] J. S. Dugdale stated he collected specimens on the rosettes of C. spectabilis. [6] They mine the leaves of their host plant. [6]

Related Research Articles

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

Stigmella aigialeia is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. 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.

<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 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 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.

<i>Sabatinca aemula</i> Species of moth

Sabatinca aemula is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the north western parts of the South Island. The larvae of this species has yet to be collected but it has been hypothesised that the larvae subsist on foliose liverworts similar to other species in the Sabatinca genus. The adults of the species are on the wing from the middle of September until the end of December. The adults of S. aemula are very similar in appearance to S. chrysargyra and it has been argued they can only be distinguished by dissection. However more recent research suggests that the colour patterns on the forewings of the two species can be sufficient to distinguish between the two species.

<i>Asterivora symbolaea</i> Species of moth

Asterivora symbolaea is a species of moth in the family Choreutidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Arthur's Pass. This species lives in subalpine habitat. Adults of this is on the wing in January and February. Larvae are hosted by Celmisia prorepens.

<i>Heterocrossa canescens</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Heterocrossa canescens is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been observed in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and in the Southern Alps. The larvae of this species feed on the fruits and flowers of endemic to New Zealand species in the genus Gaultheria. Adult moths are on the wing in November and from January to March.

<i>Eutorna inornata</i> Species of moth

Eutorna inornata is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It was described by Alfred Philpott in 1927. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. The larvae of this moth are leaf minors of Selliera radicans.

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

Hierodoris insignis is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the Nelson/Tasman districts. The larvae are leaf miners and are hosted by Celmisia species. Adults are on the wing in January. It is likely that this species belongs to another genus and as such this species is also known as Hierodoris (s.l.) insignis or 'Hierodoris' insignis.

<i>Tingena opaca</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena opaca is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. Adults of this species are on the wing in December.

<i>Meterana badia</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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

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References

  1. 1 2 "Stigmella insignis (Philpott, 1927)". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 14: 53. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN   0111-5383. Wikidata   Q45083134.
  3. 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.
  4. 1 2 3 Alfred Philpott (15 August 1927). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 89. ISSN   1176-6158. Wikidata   Q107580217.
  5. George Vernon Hudson (1939), A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 469, OCLC   9742724, Wikidata   Q109420935
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hans Donner; Christopher Wilkinson (28 April 1989). "Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 16: 25–26. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.16. ISSN   0111-5383. OCLC   924829916. Wikidata   Q45079930. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2021.
  7. 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.
  8. "PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-07-12.