Stigmella kaimanua

Stigmella kaimanua
Male holotype
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nepticulidae
Genus:	Stigmella
Species:	S. kaimanua
Binomial name
Stigmella kaimanua Donner & Wilkinson, 1989 [1]

Stigmella kaimanua is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. ^[2] 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.

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1989 by Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson from specimens collected in Fiordland, Otago and Southland. ^[3] The male holotype specimen, collected at Woodhaugh, Dunedin on 5 November 1982 by B.H. Patrick, is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. ^[3]

Description

The larvae of S. kaimanua are 3–4 mm long and whitish yellow. ^[3]

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

Head. Frontal tuft pale brown; scape white; collar grey; antenna brown-grey, with about 30 segments. Thorax brown. Forewing about 3 millimetres (0.12 in). long, grey-brown in various shades, with 3 black spots - antemedial, medial, and apical; a blackish-brown area basally, near costa; fringe grey. Hindwing silvery grey; cilia concolorous. Abdomen brown-grey. ^[3]

The female of the species is similar appearance to the male but has larger and darker forewings and antenna with 24 segments. ^[3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. ^{[1] [4]} S. kaimanua has been observed in the mid to southern parts of the South Island. ^{[3] [5]}

Behaviour

Larvae mine the leaves of their host plant. Adults have been recorded in November and December. There is one generation per year. ^[3] Adults are attracted to light. ^[5]

Habitat and hosts

Leaves of the larval host P. heterophylla.

S. kaimanua inhabits lowland and lower montane forest. ^[3] The larvae feed on Parsonsia heterophylla . ^{[6] [7]}

References

1. "Stigmella kaimanua Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
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.
3. Hans Donner; Christopher Wilkinson (28 April 1989). "Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)". Fauna of New Zealand. 16. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 26–27. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.16. ISSN   0111-5383. OCLC   924829916. Wikidata   Q45079930.
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. Christchurch City Council (2 September 2015). "District Plan Review Subcommittee Meeting 2 September 2015 Attachments" (PDF). christchurch.infocouncil.biz. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
6. "Stigmella kaimanua Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
7. Pendergrast, Aja (2019-04-28). "New Zealand jasmine: a real endemic climber | Auckland Zoo News". www.aucklandzoo.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-10-07.