Aspilanta hydrangaeella is a species of moth in the family Heliozelidae. It is found in the United States. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on hydrangea plants.[1][2][3]
| Aspilanta hydrangaeella | |
|---|---|
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| Adult female A. hydrangaeella | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Heliozelidae |
| Genus: | Aspilanta |
| Species: | A. hydrangaeella
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| Binomial name | |
| Aspilanta hydrangaeella (Chambers, 1874)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Distribution edit
A. hydrangaeella can be found in the eastern United States, including Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.[1][2]
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Description edit
Adult A. hydrangaeella have a wingspan of 5.0–5.8 mm (0.20–0.23 in), with each forewing measuring 2.2–2.8 mm (0.087–0.110 in) in length.[1] Externally, adult A. hydrangaeella are similar to other moths in the genus Aspilanta, but can be differentiated by their antennae – the antennae of A. hydrangaeella have noticeable white tips.[2][3]
The larvae are colorless or whitish besides their green gut contents, with a dark brown head and prothorax. Darker spots may be visible on some body segments.[1] Their primary host plant is smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), though larvae can also be found less frequently on snowy hydrangea (Hydrangea radiata).[3]
The leaf mine begins with a long, sometimes contorted linear portion that eventually widens out into an elongate blotch or wide gallery. The frass ranges from green to black in color, and is distributed in a narrow line at the start of the mine but forms a central smear in the larger, later portion of the mine. When mature and ready to pupate, the larvae cut out a 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) long case from their host leaf, leaving an elliptic hole.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f van Nieukerken, Erik J.; Eiseman, Charles S. (2020). "Splitting the leafmining shield-bearer moth genus Antispila Hübner (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae): North American species with reduced venation placed in Aspilanta new genus, with a review of heliozelid morphology". ZooKeys (957). Pensoft Publishers: 105–161. Bibcode:2020ZooK..957..105V. doi:10.3897/zookeys.957.53908. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 7431445. PMID 32863714.
- ^ a b c van Nieukerken, Erik J.; Wagner, David; Baldessari, Mario; Mazzon, Luca; Angeli, Gino; Girolami, Vincenzo; Duso, Carlo; Doorenweerd, Camiel (2012). "Antispila oinophylla new species (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae), a new North American grapevine leafminer invading Italian vineyards: taxonomy, DNA barcodes and life cycle". ZooKeys (170). Pensoft Publishers: 29–77. Bibcode:2012ZooK..170...29V. doi:10.3897/zookeys.170.2617. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 3288679. PMID 22408380.
- ^ a b c "Aspilanta hydrangaeella (Chambers, 1874) - No Common Name". Moths of North Carolina. North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation and North Carolina Biodiversity Project. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.