Taxonomy and phylogeny of Nepticulidae and other leafmining moths in North America
Van Nieukerken EJ. 2016. Taxonomy and phylogeny of Nepticulidae and other leafmining moths in North America. National Park Service
"The Nepticulidae form a family of tiny moths with about 800 named and many unnamed species globally, larvae of which make leaf mines in flowering plants. They contain some of the smallest moths, with a wingspan of 4-8 mm. Larvae make characteristic leaf mines. The species usually feed on only a single host-plant species and related species tend to feed on related host-plants. PI's research concentrates on the elucidation of the phylogeny and taxonomy of the family in relation to host plant use, while conducting inventory work in the park for the ATBI. The southern States of the US are still poorly sampled. In September and October of 2010, the PIs collected around Purchase Knob, Big Creek, Oconaluftee, Clingmans Dome, Smokemont, Rich Mountain Road, and Cades Cove. Approximately 67 species of leave miner moths were collected, including about 27 species of Nepticulidae (still being identified). A list of host plants is provided in the annual report. Material of Antispila collected on wild grape has helped to fix the identity of the species that was recently introduced into Europe: Italy. It is a common species in the USA, but apparently without name. A description is now in preparation, and DNA from specimens from the park has assisted in this identification."
- Type
- Generic Dataset
- Authors
- Van Nieukerken, Erik
- Date of Issue
- 2016-10-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Big Creek, Clingmans Dome, flowering plants, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, larvae, leafmining moths, Nepticulidae, Oconaluftee, Origin:External, Purchase Knob, SER, Sm, Southeast Region, StudyID:GRSM-01036
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Terrestrial Invertebrates