Stigmella kurilensis
Encyclopedia
Stigmella kurilensis is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is only known from Hokkaido
(Japan) and Kunashiri Island (southern Kurils).
It does not resemble any other Nepticulid
and its generic placement is therefore difficult to assess. Puplesis (1987, 1994) placed it in a separate monotypic
species-group in Stigmella. Double fasciae are rare in Nepticulidae, but occur frequently in the Asiatic species of Enteucha and in most Ectoedemia subgenus Etainia species. However, S. kurilensis does not share important apomorphic characters with these. The abdominal tufts are also remarkable. These kinds of tufts on segments other than 8 occur in most Trifurcula and in the Acalyptris repeteki group, however these genera belong to the Trifurculini tribe, and S. kurilensis does not share any of its apomorphies.
Adults are on wing in early June and August. There are probably two generations per year.
The host plant is unknown.
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 Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
(Japan) and Kunashiri Island (southern Kurils).
It does not resemble any other Nepticulid
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...
and its generic placement is therefore difficult to assess. Puplesis (1987, 1994) placed it in a separate monotypic
species-group in Stigmella. Double fasciae are rare in Nepticulidae, but occur frequently in the Asiatic species of Enteucha and in most Ectoedemia subgenus Etainia species. However, S. kurilensis does not share important apomorphic characters with these. The abdominal tufts are also remarkable. These kinds of tufts on segments other than 8 occur in most Trifurcula and in the Acalyptris repeteki group, however these genera belong to the Trifurculini tribe, and S. kurilensis does not share any of its apomorphies.
Adults are on wing in early June and August. There are probably two generations per year.
The host plant is unknown.