Tingena | |
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Tingena armigerella | |
Scientific classification | |
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Genus: | Tingena |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Tingena is a genus of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae). [2] This genus is endemic to New Zealand. [1]
This genus was described by Francis Walker in 1864. [3] The type species is Tingena bifaciella Walker, by original monotypy. [2] Tingena bifaciella has been synonymised with Tingena armigerella. [2] As at 2021 this genus is regarded as being in need of revision. [4] There are also several species in this genus that are as yet undescribed. [2]
The larvae of species within the genus Tingena are active in New Zealand's mid to late summer and slowly continue to mature throughout the autumn and winter. [5] In late spring or early summer they then pupate. [5]
The larvae of all species within the genus Tingena feed on leaf litter and often larvae of species within this genus coexist in the same area. [5] The larva weave two leaves together with silk forming a cocoon like structure in which they live and from which they feed. [5] These cocoons can be found underneath the layer of loose dry leaf litter but above the layer of moist compacted composing leaf matter. [5] As the larva grows it extends the silken tunnels in which it lives ensuring it can move to new feeding sites. [5] When feeding the larva produces a large amount of frass. [5] It has been hypothesised that the smell of this frass attracts parasitic wasps that utilise Tingena larvae as hosts for their offspring. [5]
Muehlenbeckia australis is a known host of species in the genus Tingena with the larvae feeding on the fallen leaves of this plant. [6]
Species in this genus include: [1] [7]
Tingena | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Tingena armigerella | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | Tingena |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
Tingena is a genus of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae). [2] This genus is endemic to New Zealand. [1]
This genus was described by Francis Walker in 1864. [3] The type species is Tingena bifaciella Walker, by original monotypy. [2] Tingena bifaciella has been synonymised with Tingena armigerella. [2] As at 2021 this genus is regarded as being in need of revision. [4] There are also several species in this genus that are as yet undescribed. [2]
The larvae of species within the genus Tingena are active in New Zealand's mid to late summer and slowly continue to mature throughout the autumn and winter. [5] In late spring or early summer they then pupate. [5]
The larvae of all species within the genus Tingena feed on leaf litter and often larvae of species within this genus coexist in the same area. [5] The larva weave two leaves together with silk forming a cocoon like structure in which they live and from which they feed. [5] These cocoons can be found underneath the layer of loose dry leaf litter but above the layer of moist compacted composing leaf matter. [5] As the larva grows it extends the silken tunnels in which it lives ensuring it can move to new feeding sites. [5] When feeding the larva produces a large amount of frass. [5] It has been hypothesised that the smell of this frass attracts parasitic wasps that utilise Tingena larvae as hosts for their offspring. [5]
Muehlenbeckia australis is a known host of species in the genus Tingena with the larvae feeding on the fallen leaves of this plant. [6]
Species in this genus include: [1] [7]