# Stigmella lucida

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***Stigmella lucida***, also known as the **silver beech miner moth**, is a species of [moth](/source/Moth) of the family [Nepticulidae](/source/Nepticulidae).[1] It was [first described](/source/Species_description) by [Alfred Philpott](/source/Alfred_Philpott). This species is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) and is found in the [North](/source/North_Island) and [South](/source/South_Island) Islands. Its preferred habitat is native forest populated with its larval host species *[Nothofagus menziesii](/source/Nothofagus_menziesii).* Larvae of this species mine the leaves of its host plant. Adults are on the wing from September to January.

## Taxonomy

This species was originally described by Alfred Philpott in 1919 and originally named *Nepticula lucida*.[2] [George Hudson](/source/George_Hudson_(entomologist)) used that name when he discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book *The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.*[3] In 1988 [John S. Dugdale](/source/John_S._Dugdale) placed this species in the genus *Stigmella*.[4] In 1989 Hans Donner and Christopher Wilkinson revised this species and confirmed its placement in that genus.[5] The male [holotype](/source/Holotype), collected at [Waitati](/source/Waitati) in Dunedin,[6] is held at the [Auckland War Memorial Museum](/source/Auckland_War_Memorial_Museum).[4]

## Description

Larvae are about 3 mm (0.12 in) long and pale green.[5]

The cocoon is made of white to pale brown silk and is constructed amidst foliage and branches of the food plant.[5]

Philpott described the adults of this species as follows:

♂♀. 5 1⁄2–6 1⁄2 mm. Head greyish - white. Antennae black. Thorax fuscous. Abdomen black. Legs greyish-black. Forewings in ♂ elongate, rather broad basally, apex broadly rounded, in ♀ lanceolate, shining dark fuscous; a broad outwardly-curved white band at 3⁄5 : cilia fuscous. Hind-wings and cilia dull fuscous-black.[2]

The adult of this species can be distinguished from similar appearing moths as a result of its distinctive white forewing fascia.[5]

## Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[7] It is found in both the North and South Islands.[5]

## Behaviour

The larvae [mine](/source/Leaf_miner) the leaves of their host plant, the [silver beech](/source/Nothofagus_menziesii). The mine starts close to the midrib near the stem as a narrow gallery. At first, only the lower part of the leaf tissue is eaten, but gradually, as the mine becomes wider, it reaches both cuticular layers. The [frass](/source/Frass) is deposited in the middle of the mine, later filling all space. Larva have been recorded from May to August and in October and November.[5]

Adults are on the wing in January and from September to December. There are one or two generations per year.[5]

## Habitat and hosts

This species inhabits beech forests containing its larval host species.[3] The larvae feed on *[Nothofagus menziesii](/source/Nothofagus_menziesii)*.[5]

## References

1. Wikidata item [Q28109648](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28109648)

1. Wikidata item [Q66764294](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q66764294)

1. Wikidata item [Q58593286](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58593286)

1. Wikidata item [Q45083134](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45083134)

1. Wikidata item [Q45079930](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45079930)

1. Wagner, David L. (1992-01-01). ["Fauna of New Zealand. Number 16, Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)"](https://academic.oup.com/aesa/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/aesa/85.1.105). *Annals of the Entomological Society of America*. **85** (1): 105–106. [doi:10.1093/aesa/85.1.105](https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/85.1.105). [ISSN 1938-2901](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1938-2901)

1. ["Stigmella lucida (Philpott, 1919)"](http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/284d2d12-a099-4db4-9107-deb77354ece2). *www.nzor.org.nz*. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-07-12.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stigmella lucida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella_lucida) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella_lucida?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.