Antispila cornifoliella
Clemens, 1860
Antispila cornifoliella is a North American in the Heliozelidae, commonly known as shield-bearer moths. The is a leaf-miner on Cornus (dogwood) species, with larvae creating distinctive mines in leaves during late summer and early autumn. It is native to eastern and central North America, with records from the United States and Canada.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Antispila cornifoliella: /ænˈtɪspaɪlə kɔrnɪfoʊˈliɛlə/
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Identification
may be distinguished from other Antispila by genitalia characters; larval identification relies on the dark brown and shield contrasting with a predominantly white body, combined with association with Cornus species and the timing of larval activity in September. Leaf mines are diagnostic for the : larvae create tunnels in leaves and cut out oval shield-shaped sections at the mine terminus for .
Appearance
have a mostly dark brown body with purplish brown hindwings. Larvae have a dark brown and thoracic shield, with most of the remaining body white.
Distribution
Native to North America. Documented from Alberta, Maryland, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, and Vermont.
Seasonality
Larvae active in September. not explicitly documented in available sources.
Diet
Larvae feed on Cornus , mining leaves of the plant.
Host Associations
- Cornus - larval plantLarvae mine leaves
Life Cycle
Larval stage mines leaves of Cornus , typically in September. Larvae pupate within oval cut-out shield sections removed from the leaf mine. Specific details on number of and complete timing are not documented.
Behavior
Larvae are leaf miners, creating tunnels in plant leaves. At the end of the mine, larvae bite out an oval section of leaf tissue in which they pupate. These cut-out shields are characteristic of the Heliozelidae.
Similar Taxa
- Antispila petryiEuropean also feeding on Cornus; distinguished by genitalia, larval characters, and barcodes; has single with larvae August–November, whereas A. cornifoliella larvae occur in September
- Antispila treitschkiellaEuropean feeding on Cornus mas (cornelian cherry); distinguished by genitalia, larval characters, and barcodes; has two with larvae June–July and September–November
More Details
Taxonomic note
The European Antispila petryi and A. treitschkiella were synonymized under A. treitschkiella from the 1970s until 2018, when molecular and morphological studies reinstated them as separate species. A. cornifoliella is a distinct North American species described in 1860 and not involved in this European taxonomic confusion.