Neolithocolletis nsengai
| Neolithocolletis nsengai | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gracillariidae |
| Genus: | Neolithocolletis |
| Species: | N. nsengai |
| Binomial name | |
| Neolithocolletis nsengai de Prins, 2012 | |
Neolithocolletis nsengai is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Bas-Congo province). The habitat consists of a small shadowy opening covered with low vegetation in a primary rain forest in Central West Africa on a bank of the small river Luki.
The length of the forewings is 1.69–2.01 millimetres (0.067–0.079 in). The forewing ground colour is golden ochreous with black markings without margins. The hindwings are pale grey with a long and dense dark grey fringe gradually shortening towards the apex. Adults are on wing from early April to late May.[1]
The larvae feed on Dalbergia hostilis. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of an oblong whitish or pale beige blotch-mine which is found on the base of the leaflet on the underside of the leaf. Pupation takes place inside the mine within a circular white cocoon.
Etymology
The species is named in honour of Laurent Nsenga, the general managing director of the Luki-Mayumbe nature reserve and WWF.