Biology:Stigmella cassiniae

Short description: Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Stigmella cassiniae
Male holotype
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nepticulidae
Genus:	Stigmella
Species:	S. cassiniae
Binomial name
Stigmella cassiniae Donner & Wilkinson, 1989

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.

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1989 by Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson from specimens collected in the Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki and Southland regions. The male holotype specimen, collected at Cheviot Face in the Takitimu Range on 30 January 1976 on Cassinia vauvilliersii (now known as Ozothamnus leptophyllus) by J. S. Dugdale, is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.

Description

Larvae are 2–3 mm long and orange-brown. Adult moths have forewings with a length of between 2–3 mm. Donner and Wilkinson described the adult male of this species as follows:

Head. Frontal tuft buff; scape and collar pale grey to whitish; antenna brown, lustrous, reflecting gold, comprising 29 segments. Thorax grey. Forewing 2–3 mm long, golden brown, iridescent, reflecting gold and silver; fringe concolorous. Hindwing silvery grey, lustrous, reflecting silver; fringe silvery white. Abdomen concolorous.

Donner and Wilkinson went on to described the adult female as follows:

As for male, but antenna comprising 22 segments.

This species is easily identified by its small size and its forewing colouration of golden brown.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. The species has been observed at Mt. Benger at an altitude of 1,100 metres (3,600 ft).

Behaviour

Larva have been recorded in May, July, August and October. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine is circular in the early stage, later occupying entire the leaflet. The larvae then mine through the stem to another nearby leaflet. Up to five leaflets may be consumed before the larva matures. The cocoon is spun amongst debris on the ground. Reared moths emerged August, September and November. Adults have been recorded on the wing in January, February, April and October. There are probably two generations per year.

Host

Host species O. leptophyllus.

The larvae feed on Ozothamnus leptophyllus.

References

Wikidata ☰ Q7616576 entry