Stigmella castanopsiella
Encyclopedia
Stigmella castanopsiella is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is only known from Honshū and Kyushu in Japan
, but is probably also present in China
.
Adults are on wing in March. There is probably one generation per year.
The larvae feed on Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii
. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a linear, upper surface gallery. The first half runs in a straight narrow line along the mid-rib towards the base of the leaf. The second half is made by the last instar larva and becomes broader and leaves the mid-rib. The colour of the narrow linear portion is reddish brown to whitish brown, filled with brownish grains of frass. The broad linear portion is yellowish brown, containing a narrow dark greenish mass of frass.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae is a family of very small moths with a worldwide distribution. They are characterised by eyecaps over the eyes . These pigmy moths or midget moths, as they are commonly known, include the smallest of all living moths, with a wingspan that can be as little as 3 mm...
family. It is only known from Honshū and Kyushu in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, but is probably also present in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Adults are on wing in March. There is probably one generation per year.
The larvae feed on Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii
Castanopsis cuspidata
Castanopsis cuspidata is a species of Castanopsis native to southern Japan and southern Korea....
. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a linear, upper surface gallery. The first half runs in a straight narrow line along the mid-rib towards the base of the leaf. The second half is made by the last instar larva and becomes broader and leaves the mid-rib. The colour of the narrow linear portion is reddish brown to whitish brown, filled with brownish grains of frass. The broad linear portion is yellowish brown, containing a narrow dark greenish mass of frass.