Dialectica aemula explained

Dialectica aemula is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. 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.

Notes and References

1. http://www.gracillariidae.net/species_by_code/DIALAEMU Global Taxonomic Database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera)
2. http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/grac/aemula.html Australian Insects
3. https://archive.today/20121021085126/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119950012/abstracthttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1997.tb01427.x/abstract The Native Dialectica aemula (Meyrick) and the Introduced Dialectica scalariella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in Australia: Characterisation of Two Closely Related Species on Boraginaceae