Eucosmophora pithecollobiae

Eucosmophora pithecollobiae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gracillariidae
Genus: Eucosmophora
Species: E. pithecollobiae
Binomial name
Eucosmophora pithecollobiae
Davis & Wagner, 2005

Eucosmophora pithecollobiae is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is known from Belize and from Florida in the United States.[1]

The length of the forewings is 3-3.9 mm for males and 3.3-4 mm for females.[2]

The larvae feed on Pithecollobium guadalupense, Pithecollobium macrandrium and Pithecollobium unguis-cati. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The initial serpentine track is often obliterated by the blotch fashioned by third instar larva. The upper surface of the mine is waxy translucent. The larva remains visible within the mine throughout its development. Portions of the upper mine surface are discolored by the liquidy frass excreted by the sap-feeding instars. The larva removes patches of parenchyma from the floor of the mine, especially about the periphery. The dark green frass is concentrated along the edges of the mine.

Etymology

The species name is derived from the generic name, Pithecellobium, of the larval host plant.

References

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