Stigmella cassiniae
Encyclopedia
Stigmella cassiniae is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is found in New Zealand
.
The length of the forewings is 2–3 mm. Adults have been recorded in January, February, April and October. Reared moths emerged August, September and November. There are probably two generations per year.
The larvae feed on Cassinia
species. 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. Larva have been recorded in May, July, August and October. They are 2–3 mm long, orange-brown. The cocoon is spun amongst debris on the ground.
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 found in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The length of the forewings is 2–3 mm. Adults have been recorded in January, February, April and October. Reared moths emerged August, September and November. There are probably two generations per year.
The larvae feed on Cassinia
Cassinia
Cassinia is a large genus of plants in the family Asteraceae, most or all of which are native to the Southern Hemisphere. It was named for French botanist Alexandre de Cassini.Species include:*Cassinia accipitrum Orchard...
species. They mine
Leaf miner
Leaf miner is a term used to describe the larvae of many different species of insect which live in and eat the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths , sawflies and flies , though some beetles and wasps also exhibit this behavior.Like Woodboring beetles, leaf...
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. Larva have been recorded in May, July, August and October. They are 2–3 mm long, orange-brown. The cocoon is spun amongst debris on the ground.