Dialectica aemula
| Dialectica aemula | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gracillariidae |
| Genus: | Dialectica |
| Species: | D. aemula |
| Binomial name | |
| Dialectica aemula (Meyrick, 1916) | |
Dialectica aemula is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is known from Australia (the Northern Territory, Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria), India (Bihar) and Nepal.[1]
The adult is similar to Dialectica scalariella, which was introduced deliberately into Australia, but the cocoons are more easily distinguished.[2][3]
The larvae feed on Cynoglossum species (including Cynoglossum australe, Cynoglossum lanceolatum and Cynoglossum suaveolens), Trichodesma indicum and Trichodesma zeylanicum. They mine the leaves of their host plant.