Aspilanta ampelopsifoliella is a species of moth in the family Heliozelidae. It is found in eastern North America. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and false Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea).[1][2]
| Aspilanta ampelopsifoliella | |
|---|---|
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| Adult female A. ampelopsifoliella | |
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| Adult male A. ampelopsifoliella | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Heliozelidae |
| Genus: | Aspilanta |
| Species: | A. ampelopsifoliella
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| Binomial name | |
| Aspilanta ampelopsifoliella (Chambers, 1874)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Distribution
editA. ampelopsifoliella can be found in Canada (Ontario) and across the eastern United States (Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin).[1][2]
Description
editAdult A. ampelopsifoliella have a wingspan of 5–5.3 mm (0.20–0.21 in), with each forewing measuring 2.4–2.6 mm (0.094–0.102 in) in length.[1] Externally, adult A. ampelopsifoliella are visually indistinguishable from Aspilanta oinophylla – the two species can only be differentiated by examination of the genitalia.[2]
The larvae are mostly colourless or whitish besides the green gut contents, with a black head and prothorax.[1]
The leaf mine begins with a long linear section, usually taking a sinuous path, that widens out into an elongate blotch. The frass of the larvae is brown to black, placed in a broken linear path near the start of the mine but becoming irregularly dispersed as the larvae mature. When mature and ready to pupate, the larvae cut out a 3.5–4 mm (0.14–0.16 in) long case from their host leaf, leaving an elliptic hole.[1]
References
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- ^ 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.