Stilbosis quadricustatella
Chambers, 1880
Stilbosis quadricustatella is a leaf-mining in the Cosmopterigidae. It creates internal mines in oak leaves and exhibits -specific variation in , with higher on sand live oak (Quercus geminata) compared to water oak (Quercus nigra). Its are shaped by differential and rates across host .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Stilbosis quadricustatella: //stɪlˈboʊsɪs ˌkwɒd.rɪ.kʊs.təˈtɛl.ə//
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Identification
A small in the Cosmopterigidae; are producing internal mines in oak leaves. Specific diagnostic features for distinguishing from are not documented in available sources.
Habitat
Associated with oak-dominated environments, specifically sand live oak (Quercus geminata) stands in homogeneous inland and coastal sites, and patchily distributed water oak (Quercus nigra) in inland areas. Coastal show significantly higher at edges than interiors.
Distribution
North America: recorded from Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, and Texas.
Diet
Larval stage feeds internally on oak leaves (Quercus geminata and Quercus nigra); feeding occurs within leaf mines.
Host Associations
- Quercus geminata - sand live oak; supports high in homogeneous stands at inland and coastal sites
- Quercus nigra - water oak; supports low in patchily distributed inland areas
Life Cycle
develop within leaf mines; pupal occurs in soil. Pupal overwintering has been observed to not differ significantly between moist and dry treatments of sand and loam soil typical of respective .
Behavior
Within- on Quercus geminata significantly affects larval , , and . Leaf area and within-leaf miner density are positively correlated. No significant - area or isolation effect detected on coastal Quercus geminata .
Ecological Role
; contributes to pressure on oak . Serves as for and for , with and rates varying by host species. Overall larval mortality remains roughly equivalent across hosts due to reciprocal rates of these .