''Epicephala lanceolaria'' is a leafflower
moth of the family
Gracillariidae. The only known host of the larva is ''
Glochidion lanceolarium
''Glochidion lanceolarium'' is a species of leafflower tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is native to Cambodia, China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Yunnan), India, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Mandarin it is known as 艾胶ç ...
'' which is
pollinated by the
imago (flying moth).
Distribution
The moth is
endemic to China and found in the provinces of
Guangdong,
Hainan and
Hong Kong. It was described in 2012 from the
type locality
Type locality may refer to:
* Type locality (biology)
* Type locality (geology)
See also
* Local (disambiguation)
* Locality (disambiguation)
{{disambiguation ...
taken from the
South China Botanical Garden
The South China National Botanical Garden () of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (formerly Institute of Agriculture and Forestry) is a large botanical garden in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong
Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized ...
.
Biology
The eggs are laid in April and May on the flowers of ''
Glochidion lanceolarium
''Glochidion lanceolarium'' is a species of leafflower tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is native to Cambodia, China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Yunnan), India, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Mandarin it is known as 艾胶ç ...
'', with the adult moth pollinating the plant at the same time. ''G lanceolarium'' differs from other leafflower trees by producing their fruit in January and the larvae emerge from the eggs, at that time, to feed within the fruit. The larvae
pupate within the mature fruit in March and the moths fly out in the following months to lay eggs on the newly emerged flowers.
References
External links
Youtube video of an ''Epicephala lanceolaria'' pollinating and laying eggs in a ''Glochidion lanceolarium'' flower
Epicephala
Moths described in 2012
Endemic fauna of China
Moths of Asia
{{Gracillariinae-stub