Stenoptilia annadactyla
Stenoptilia annadactyla, also known as the small scabious plume, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It was first described by Reinhard Sutter in 1988 and is found in Europe.
| Stenoptilia annadactyla | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pterophoridae |
| Genus: | Stenoptilia |
| Species: | S. annadactyla |
| Binomial name | |
| Stenoptilia annadactyla Sutter, 1988 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
The wingspan is 17–24 mm. Adults are on wing from June to September in at least two generations. They look similar to the three other species of moths in the Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla group and can only be told apart from detailed examination, including the genitalia.[1][2]
Early instar larvae mine the central rosette of small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) leaves; the central two or three leaves wilt, turn greyish and a larva can be found by gently pulling the leaves apart. The final instar feeds externally.[3]
Distribution
The moth has so far been found in Austria, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Switzerland.[4] It was first recorded from Great Britain in 2005 when larvae were reared from the flowers of small scabious found in Breckland, East Anglia. Earlier specimens found in Norfolk are also of this species.[3] It has also been found at Settle, Yorkshire.[1]
References
- Kimber, Ian. "Stenoptilia annadactyla Sutter, 1988". UKmoths. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- Stirling, Phil; Parsons, Mark; Lewington, Richard (2012). Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Gillingham, Dorset: British Wildlife. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-9564902-1-6.
- "Stenoptilia annadactyla Small Scabious Plume". NorfolkMoths. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "Stenoptilia annadactyla Sutter, 1988". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 4 July 2020.