''Micropterix gaudiella'' is a species of
moth belonging to the family
Micropterigidae. It was described by Zeller and Huemer in 2015.
It occurs in
Italy.
Etymology
The species name is derived from the Latin ''gaudium'' (meaning fun, pleasure, happiness).
The genus name ''
Micropterix'' is derived from Greek ''mikros'' (little) and ''pterux'' (wing).
Distribution and behaviour
The species is known only from the mountain
Pizzo Arera
Pizzo Arera is a mountain of the Bergamasque Prealps of northern Italy. Its peak is above sea level.
Geography
It is part of the ridge that divides Val Seriana from Val Brembana. The town of Roncobello is nearby. Fossils can be found on some ...
in the southern
Orobic Alps in
Lombardy
Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...
, Italy, at an elevation of approximately 1,600 meters on south-facing exposed limestone slopes.
Adults feed on pollen of ''
Rosa'' spp. and ''
Helianthemum'' spp., and have been recorded on wing during late June and early–mid July.
Description
Immature stages
The immature stages of ''Micropterix gaudiella'' have not yet been described.
Adults
The blueish forewings are strongly marked with three broad bronze-golden bands at 1/4th, 1/2nd and 3/4th of the wing. The first of these is
trapeziform
A quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides is called a trapezoid () in American and Canadian English. In British and other forms of English, it is called a trapezium ().
A trapezoid is necessarily a Convex polygon, convex quadri ...
; the second is straight and inwardly oblique; and the final band is inwardly convex and variable in shape. The forewing's fringe is bronzy golden, and bluish violet at the base. The hindwings are bronzy golden, with a purplish tinge at the apex. The fringe is bronzy golden.
With a forewing length of 3.5–3.9 mm, male specimens of ''Micropterix gaudiella'' are smaller than their female counterparts (4–4.4 mm forewing length).
References
Micropterigidae
Moths described in 2015
Moths of Europe
{{Micropterigidae-stub