Ectoedemia argyropeza is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is a widespread species, with a Holarctic distribution.

Ectoedemia argyropeza
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nepticulidae
Genus: Ectoedemia
Species:
E. argyropeza
Binomial name
Ectoedemia argyropeza
(Zeller, 1839)
Synonyms
List
    • Lyonetia argyropeza Zeller, 1839
    • Nepticula apicella Stainton, 1854
    • Nepticula argyropezella Doubleday, 1859
    • Ectoedemia downesi Wilkinson & Scoble, 1979
    • Nepticula simplicella Heinemann, 1862
    • Nepticula turbulentella Wocke, 1861

Description edit

The wingspan is 7 mm. The head is ochreous-yellow with a whitish collar. The antennal eyecaps are also whitish. Forewings dark fuscous ; a small costal spot before middle, and a larger dorsal spot before the tornus whitish ; outer half of cilia whitish. Hindwings grey.[1]

Adults are on wing from May to June.[2] It is a parthenogenetic species, with males being extremely rare.

The larvae feed on aspen (Populus tremula) and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides (ssp. downesi)). They mine the leaves of their host plant. It first bores in the petiole, resulting in a swelling. When the larva reaches the leaf disc, it makes an elongate blotch between the midrib and the first lateral vein. The frass is concentrated in two stripes parallel to the sides of the mine. Pupation takes place in the soil.[3]

Subspecies edit

  • Ectoedemia argyropeza argyropeza
  • Ectoedemia argyropeza downesi Wilkinson and Scoble, 1979 (North America)

Distribution edit

It is found in most of Europe, as well as North America. In Russia, it is found in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kaluga, Tatarstan and Kaliningrad.[4] It is also known from north-eastern China.

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ Mayrick, E (1895). A Handbook of British Lepidoptera. London: MacMillan.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  2. ^ Kimber, Ian. "4.085 BF23 Ectoedemia argyropeza (Zeller, 1839)". UKmoths. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  3. ^ Ellis, W N. "Ectoedemia argyropeza (Zeller, 1839) virgin pigmy". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  4. ^ Nepticulidae from the Volga and Ural region

External links edit