Heliozela eugeniella

Heliozela eugeniella
A dead moth missing its wings on the left side. The forewing is brown with a vertical yellow-white band through the middle, while the hindwing is feather-like. Below the moth are several specimen labels
Holotype specimen of H. eugeniella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Heliozelidae
Genus: Heliozela
Species:
H. eugeniella
Binomial name
Heliozela eugeniella
(Busck, 1900)[1]
Synonyms
  • Antispila eugeniella Busck, 1900

Heliozela eugeniella is a species of moth in the family Heliozelidae. It was described by August Busck in 1900 and is known only from Florida.[2]

Description

The wingspan of the adult moth is 3.8 mm (0.15 in). The head, thorax, and forewings are shining dark purple and the hindwings are dark gray. There is a golden-metallic band on the middle of the forewing. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on Eugenia species, forming an upper blotch mine. When ready to pupate the larva cuts out an oval case which falls to the ground.[3]

References