- Stigmella fulva
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Stigmella fulva Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nepticulidae Genus: Stigmella Species: S. fulva Binomial name Stigmella fulva
(Watt, 1921)Synonyms - Nepticula fulva Watt, 1921
Stigmella fulva is a moth of the Nepticulidae family. It is found in New Zealand.
The length of the forewings is 4–5 mm. Adults have been recorded from January to March and from August to December. Reared specimens emerged in May and July. There are apparently continuous generations throughout the year.
The larvae feed on Olearia species, such as Olearia arborescens, Olearia ilicifolia, Olearia nitida and Olearia macrodonta. It is most common on Olearia arborescens. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine starts as a very narrow gallery in the lower surface of the leaf, but soon expands into a blotch. The small starting point is often included in the blotch and only recognisable by purple discoloration in the leaf around egg site. The mines often difficult to see, owing to the position in the lower mesophyll layer of the leaf. Larva have been recorded in all months except January, February and June. They are 4–5 mm long and pale yellow.
The cocoon is brown and spun in the ground.
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