Stigmella zelkoviella
Encyclopedia
Stigmella zelkoviella is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is only known from Kyushu
in Japan
.
Adults are on wing from the end of April. There are probably two to three generations per year.
The larvae feed on Zelkova serrata
. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists is linear, slender; highly contorted and pale brown. It includes brown granular
frass in a longitudinal belt, which (in first half of the mine) occupies almost all width, but
in last half of the mine becomes one third to one sixth of the width of the mine.
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 Kyushu
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
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...
.
Adults are on wing from the end of April. There are probably two to three generations per year.
The larvae feed on Zelkova serrata
Zelkova serrata
Zelkova serrata is a species of Zelkova native to Japan, Korea, eastern China, and Taiwan. It is often grown as an ornamental tree, and used in bonsai.-Description:...
. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists is linear, slender; highly contorted and pale brown. It includes brown granular
frass in a longitudinal belt, which (in first half of the mine) occupies almost all width, but
in last half of the mine becomes one third to one sixth of the width of the mine.