Aspilanta voraginella is a species of moth in the family Heliozelidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1927. It is found in the United States (Arizona, Texas, and Utah). The larvae are leaf miners that feed on Vitis arizonica.[1][2][3]
| Aspilanta voraginella | |
|---|---|
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| Adult male A. voraginella | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Heliozelidae |
| Genus: | Aspilanta |
| Species: | A. voraginella
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| Binomial name | |
| Aspilanta voraginella (Braun, 1927)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editAdult A. voraginella have a wingspan of 4.7–5.4 mm (0.19–0.21 in), with each forewing measuring 2.3–2.6 mm (0.091–0.102 in) in length.[1] The head, antennae, and thorax are dark brown. The wings are dark brown with pale markings, and the legs are blackish.[3] Externally, adult A. voraginella are very similar to Aspilanta oinophylla but may be differentiated by the dark brown scales on the head.[2]
The larvae are pale yellowish, with the head and prothorax slightly darker. The mouthparts are dark brown and there is a row of 5–7 brown spots on the abdomen. The larvae are gregarious leaf miners and feed on Vitis arizonica.[1]
The leaf mine is a white or yellowish blotch, lacking any linear portion, and often conjoined with the mines of other A. voraginella larvae on the same leaf. The frass is greenish black and placed irregularly near the center of the mine.[1] When mature and ready to pupate, the larva cuts out a broadly elliptical case that may be somewhat lopsided.[3]
References
edit
- ^ a b c d e 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. PMID 32863714.
- ^ a b 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 Braun, Annette F. (1927). "Descriptions of New Microlepidoptera". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 53 (3). American Entomological Society: 191–199. JSTOR 25077178. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.