Stigmella aigialeia

Stigmella aigialeia is a moth of the family Nepticulidae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on both the North and South Islands. The larvae of this species are leaf miners and are known to feed on the leaves of Plagianthus divaricatus. Larvae have been recorded as feeding in April, May and September. They pupate in leaf litter on the ground under their host plant. Adults of this have been observed on the wing in January, February, September and October, in coastal locations particularly in the preferred habitat of its host plant, that is salt marshes and sandbanks.

Stigmella aigialeia
Male holotype
Larva mining leaf of host plant
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nepticulidae
Genus: Stigmella
Species:
S. aigialeia
Binomial name
Stigmella aigialeia
Donner & Wilkinson, 1989[1]

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1989 by Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson from specimens collected in Auckland, Queen Charlotte Sound and Invercargill.[2] The male holotype specimen, collected at Huia Reserve on 29 September 1973 by B. M. May and emerged on the 23 October 1973, is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[2][3]

Description
Stigmella aigialeia

The larvae of this species are pale yellow in colour and are approximately 3mm long.[2]

The wingspan of the adult moth is approximately 4 mm. The moth is grey in appearance with brown grey and then whitish forewings. The forewings have two black spots. The hindwings are grey in colour.[2] It is similar in appearance to the female of S. hoheriae but is much smaller.[2]

Distribution

S. aigialeia is endemic to New Zealand.[4][5] This species can be found both in the North and South Islands.[2]

Biology and behaviour
Host plant Plagianthus divaricatus

The larvae of this species mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a small gallery gradually filling all space between leaf cuticles. Larvae have been recorded in April, May and September. The cocoons are made of brown silk and can be found in the leaf litter on the ground.[6]

Adults have been recorded in January, February, September and October. Probably in one but possibly in two generations per year.[2]

Habitat and host plants

The larvae feed on Plagianthus divaricatus and can therefore this species is found in the coastal habitat such as salt marshes and sandbanks which is favoured by that shrub.[6][2]

References
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Wikispecies has information related to Stigmella aigialeia.
  1. Erik J van Nieukerken; Camiel Doorenweerd; Robert J B Hoare; Donald R Davis (31 October 2016). "Revised classification and catalogue of global Nepticulidae and Opostegidae (Lepidoptera, Nepticuloidea)". ZooKeys. 628 (628): 65–246. doi:10.3897/ZOOKEYS.628.9799. ISSN 1313-2989. PMC 5126388. PMID 27917038. Wikidata Q28109648.
  2. Hans Donner; Christopher Wilkinson (28 April 1989). "Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 16: 17. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.16. ISSN 0111-5383. OCLC 924829916. Wikidata Q45079930. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2021.
  3. "Alphabetical list by species". Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  4. "Stigmella aigialeia Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  5. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 461. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  6. "Stigmella aigialeia Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
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