Stigmella hoheriae
Encyclopedia
Stigmella hoheriae is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is found in New Zealand
.
The length of the forewings is 3–4 mm. Adults have been recorded in February and from July to December. Reared adults emerged in October. There are probably two generations per year.
The larvae feed on Hoheria
species such as Hoheria glabrata, Hoheria populnea, Hoheria sexstylosa and Hoheria angustifolia. They mine
the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of blotches, mainly on the lower leaves. The mine is narrow and crosses over itself several times, but rarely passes larger leaf ribs. The frass
is deposited in a straight, granular line medially in the mine. Larva have been recorded from Februaryto August and are 2–3 mm long and pale transparent green.
The cocoon is spun fτom dark brown silk (from larvae found on Hoheria lyalli and H. glabrata) οr pale whitish silk (larvae on other Hoheria species). It is located amongst the debris at the base of the foodplant.
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 3–4 mm. Adults have been recorded in February and from July to December. Reared adults emerged in October. There are probably two generations per year.
The larvae feed on Hoheria
Hoheria
Hoheria is a genus of six species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. All are endemic to New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands. The genus name is a Latinization of the Māori language name, Houhere...
species such as Hoheria glabrata, Hoheria populnea, Hoheria sexstylosa and Hoheria angustifolia. 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 consists of blotches, mainly on the lower leaves. The mine is narrow and crosses over itself several times, but rarely passes larger leaf ribs. The frass
Frass
Frass is the fine powdery material phytophagous insects pass as waste after digesting plant parts. It causes plants to excrete chitinase due to high chitin levels, it is a natural bloom stimulant, and has high nutrient levels. Frass is known to have abundant amoeba, beneficial bacteria, and fungi...
is deposited in a straight, granular line medially in the mine. Larva have been recorded from Februaryto August and are 2–3 mm long and pale transparent green.
The cocoon is spun fτom dark brown silk (from larvae found on Hoheria lyalli and H. glabrata) οr pale whitish silk (larvae on other Hoheria species). It is located amongst the debris at the base of the foodplant.