Epicephala lanceolaria

Epicephala lanceolaria is a leafflower moth of the family Gracillariidae. The only known host of the larva is Glochidion lanceolarium which is pollinated by the imago (flying moth).[2]

Epicephala lanceolaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Infraorder:
Heteroneura
Family:
Gracillariidae
Genus:
Epicephala
Species:
E. lanceolaria
Binomial name
Epicephala lanceolaria
Li, Wang & Zhang, 2012[1]

Distribution

The moth is endemic to China and found in the provinces of Guangdong, Hainan and Hong Kong. It was described in 2012 from the type locality taken from the South China Botanical Garden.

Biology

The eggs are laid in April and May on the flowers of Glochidion lanceolarium, with the adult moth pollinating the plant at the same time. G lanceolarium differs from other leafflower trees by producing their fruit in January and the larvae emerge from the eggs, at that time, to feed within the fruit. The larvae pupate within the mature fruit in March and the moths fly out in the following months to lay eggs on the newly emerged flowers.[3]

References
  1. "Epicephala lanceolaria Li, Wang & Hu, 2012". Global Taxonomic Database of Gracillariinae. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  2. Zhang, J; Wang, S; Li, H (2012). "Six new species of Epicephala Meyrick, 1880 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) associated with Phyllanthaceae plants". Zootaxa (3275): 43–54.
  3. "Trees trap moth inside fruit for year". New Scientist. Vol. 233, no. 3112. 11 February 2017. p. 19.
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