Neurostrota gunniella

Neurostrota gunniella
Neurostrota gunniella
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gracillariidae
Genus: Neurostrota
Species: N. gunniella
Binomial name
Neurostrota gunniella
(Busck, 1906)[1]
Synonyms
  • Gracilaria gunniella Busck, 1906

The Mimosa Stem-Mining Moth (Neurostrota gunniella) is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is known from Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico and Texas, as well as Thailand and the Northern Territory in Australia,[2] where it was introduced to control Catclaw.

The wingspan is about 8 mm.[3] Adults are brown with a white stripe along the inner margin of each forewing. When in its rest position, it typically has its wings folded around the body, and its legs out.[4]

The larvae feed on Mimosa asperata, Mimosa pigra, Neptunia oleracea and Neptunia plena. Mimosa pigra is the main larval hostplant. The larvae bore the stem of their host plant, not merely under the epidermis but actually boring into the pith of the stem.

References

  1. ^ Australian Faunal Directory
  2. ^ Global Taxonomic Database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera)
  3. ^ Moth Photographers Group
  4. ^ Australian Insects


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