Heliozela eugeniella

Heliozela eugeniella is a species of moth in the family Heliozelidae. It was described by August Busck in 1900 and is known only from Florida.^[2]

Heliozela eugeniella
Holotype specimen of H. eugeniella
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Heliozelidae
Genus:	Heliozela
Species:	H. eugeniella
Binomial name
Heliozela eugeniella (Busck, 1900)[1]
Synonyms
Antispila eugeniella Busck, 1900

Description

The wingspan of the adult moth is 3.8 mm (0.15 in). The head, thorax, and forewings are shining dark purple and the hindwings are dark gray. There is a golden-metallic band on the middle of the forewing. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on Eugenia species, forming an upper blotch mine. When ready to pupate the larva cuts out an oval case which falls to the ground.^[3]

References

1. van Nieukerken, Erik J.; Eiseman, Charles S. (2020). "Splitting the leafmining shield-bearer moth genus Antispila Hübner (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae): North American species with reduced venation placed in Aspilanta new genus, with a review of heliozelid morphology". ZooKeys (957). Pensoft Publishers: 105–161. doi:10.3897/zookeys.957.53908. ISSN 1313-2970.
2. "Moth Photographers Group - Heliozela eugeniella - 0235". Moth Photographers Group. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
3. Busck, August (1900). "A new species of moths of the superfamily Tineina from Florida". Proceedings of the National Museum. 23 (1208). Smithsonian Institution: 236 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.