Tupelo Leafminer - Hodges#0234
Antispila nysaefoliella
This record describes Antispila nysaefoliella (species). Recorded family: Heliozelidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Antispila nysaefoliella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antispila_nysaefoliella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Adeloidea
- Family
- Heliozelidae (Shield Bearer Moths)
- Genus
- Antispila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Larvae mine leaves of Nyssa sylvatica (black gum or tupelo).
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae feed within leaf tissues, forming blotch-like mines. A full-grown larva spins a cocoon within the mine and then cuts through the upper and lower layers of the leaf around the cocoon, forming a case, then drops to the ground. Once on the ground, the larva fastens the case to some object with a silken thread and then pupates.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Clemens, 1860
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Antispila nysaefoliella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Tupelo Leafminer - Hodges#0234 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Vox Sciurorum , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Tupelo Leafminer - Hodges#0234
How big is Tupelo Leafminer - Hodges#0234?
Wingspan 7-8mm
Where is Tupelo Leafminer - Hodges#0234 found?
Habitat: Larvae mine leaves of Nyssa sylvatica (black gum or tupelo).
What is the life cycle of a Tupelo Leafminer - Hodges#0234?
Larvae feed within leaf tissues, forming blotch-like mines. A full-grown larva spins a cocoon within the mine and then cuts through the upper and lower layers of the leaf around the cocoon, forming a case, then drops to the ground. Once on the ground, the larva fastens the case to some object with a silken thread and then pupates.