Aspilanta viticordifoliella 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), false Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea), and frost grape (Vitis vulpina).[1][2]
| Aspilanta viticordifoliella | |
|---|---|
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| Adult female A. viticordifoliella | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Heliozelidae |
| Genus: | Aspilanta |
| Species: | A. viticordifoliella
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| Binomial name | |
| Aspilanta viticordifoliella (Clemens, 1860)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Distribution
editAspilanta viticordifoliella can be found in Canada (Ontario and Québec) and the United States (Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania).[1]
Description
editAdult A. viticordifoliella have a wingspan of around 5.5 mm (0.22 in), with each forewing measuring 2.2–2.5 mm (0.087–0.098 in).[1] The adult moth is dark brown with silvery white markings on the forewings and white tipped antennae.[3] They can be differentiated from other species of Aspilanta and various Antispila species by the lack of an apical spot on the forewings and white tipped antennae respectively.[1]
The larvae are yellowish-green with green gut contents. The head and prothorax are dark brown.[1]
The leaf mine usually begins as a rather compact blotch, sometimes preceded by a short linear portion. The frass of the larvae is black and placed in a thick clump towards the beginning of the mine, but more dispersed towards the center of the mine. 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 g 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" (PDF). ZooKeys (957). Pensoft Publishers: 105–161. Bibcode:2020ZooK..957..105V. doi:10.3897/zookeys.957.53908. ISSN 1313-2970. PMID 32863714.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Chambers, Vactor Tousey (1874). "Micro-Lepidoptera". The Canadian Entomologist. 6 (9): 168. doi:10.4039/ent6166-9. S2CID 251410290.