Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Nepticulidae Scientific name Ectoedemia argyropeza | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Ectoedemia Rank Species | |
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Similar Ectoedemia, Ectoedemia intimella, Stigmella alnetella, Stigmella betulicola, Stigmella splendidissimella | ||
Ectoedemia argyropeza is a moth of the Nepticulidae family. It is a widespread species, with a Holarctic distribution. It is found in most of Europe, as well as North America. In Russia, it is found in Leningrad, Moscow, Kaluga, Tatarstan and Kalinigrad. It is also known from north-eastern China.
The wingspan is 7 mm. Adults are on wing from May to June. It is a parthenogenetic species, with males being extremely rare.
The larvae feed on Populus tremula and Populus tremuloides (ssp. downesi). They mine the leaves of their host plant. It first bores in the petiole, resulting in a swelling. When the larva reaches the leaf disc, it makes an elongate blotch between the midrib and the first lateral vein. The frass is concentrated in two stripes parallel to the sides of the mine. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.