Neolithocolletis nsengai

Neolithocolletis nsengai is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Bas-Congo province). The habitat consists of a small shadowy opening covered with low vegetation in a primary rain forest in Central West Africa on a bank of the small river Luki.

Neolithocolletis nsengai
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Infraorder:
Heteroneura
Family:
Gracillariidae
Genus:
Neolithocolletis
Species:
N. nsengai
Binomial name
Neolithocolletis nsengai
de Prins, 2012

The length of the forewings is 1.69–2.01 millimetres (0.067–0.079 in). The forewing ground colour is golden ochreous with black markings without margins. The hindwings are pale grey with a long and dense dark grey fringe gradually shortening towards the apex. Adults are on wing from early April to late May.[1]

The larvae feed on Dalbergia hostilis. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of an oblong whitish or pale beige blotch-mine which is found on the base of the leaflet on the underside of the leaf. Pupation takes place inside the mine within a circular white cocoon.

Etymology

The species is named in honour of Laurent Nsenga, the general managing director of the Luki-Mayumbe nature reserve and WWF.

References
  1. "Systematics, revisionary taxonomy, and biodiversity of Afrotropical Lithocolletinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. Magnolia Press.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.