Epicephala laeviclada

Epicephala laeviclada is a moth of the family Gracillariidae first described by Hou-Hun Li in 2015. It is found in the Chinese provinces of Guangxi and Hainan.

Epicephala laeviclada
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Infraorder:
Heteroneura
Family:
Gracillariidae
Genus:
Epicephala
Species:
E. laeviclada
Binomial name
Epicephala laeviclada
H.-H. Li, 2015

The length of the forewings is 5−7.5 mm. The forewings are brown to dark brown with three white striae from the costal ​1⁄4, ​1⁄3 and ​2⁄5 extending obliquely outward to ​1⁄3 the width of the forewing. The dorsum has a broad white band along the basal ​1⁄3, serrated on the upper edge, distally with a stria extending obliquely outward to the middle of the cell, with a small triangular white spot and an obliquely outward stria at the middle and before ​5⁄6. There is a narrow silvery-white fascia with metallic reflection from the costal ​5⁄6 to the dorsum and the distal ​1⁄6 is ochreous, with a central black spot edged by a white dot near the costa and a white band along the dorsum. The hindwings are greyish brown.

The larva feeds on seeds in the fruit of Phyllanthus microcarpus.

Etymology

The species name refers to individuals of the host plant having glabrous branches and is derived from Latin laevis (meaning smooth) and cladus (meaning branch).[1]

References
  1. Li, Houhun & Yang, Xiaofei (2015). "Three new species of Epicephala Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) associated with Phyllanthus microcarpus (Benth.) (Phyllanthaceae)". ZooKeys. 484: 71-81. doi:10.3897/zookeys.484.8696


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