Antispila oinophylla: New moth species invades Italy's Chardonnay vineyards

Antispila oinophylla: A moth with a taste for Chardonnay leaves, which has infested vineyards across northern Italy, is a new species of leafminer, scientists say. 

The pest was first discovered by Italian scientists in 2006, but they were unable to identify it.

Now, by examining a snippet of the moth's genetic code, researchers have confirmed that it is a previously unnamed species.

The team published their findings in the journal ZooKeys.

The Italian team enlisted the help of insect expert Erik van Nieukerken from the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity in Leiden.

"We first turned to the [scientific] literature to find out what was already known, which was appallingly little for this group [of moths]," Dr van Nieukerken said.

He and his colleagues used a method known as DNA barcoding to examine a section of the insect's genetic code.

New Species
The new species, which now bears the name Antispila oinophylla, had previously been confused with a North American species (Antispila ampelopsifoliella), which feeds on Virginia creeper.

Only the genetic studies revealed it to be a different species with a taste for grapevines. Its native range is across eastern North America, where it feeds on several species of wild grapes.

So far, the species has been found in vineyards in Italy's Trento and Veneto regions, spreading and increasing in population since it was first recorded.


Read More here : New moth species invades Italy's vineyards

Hummingbird Hawk moth

A glorious hummingbird hawk-moth.

UK Conservationists have warned that many of the UK's common and garden butterfly species could be in decline.

Butterfly Conservation is urging the public to spend quarter of an hour in a garden, park or field this week - July 24 to August 1 - and make a note of the species of any butterfly they see there as well as day-flying moths such as hummingbird hawk-moths.

I once ran up and down the beautiful floral gardens of the family Rothschild, outside Nice, to try and capture a picture of this amazing creature. It seemed to prefer the blue flowers of the glorious Agapanthus.

This beautiful picture is very deceptive in it's clarity, because this is one hyperactive moth that moves at a blindingly super speed. If you try to photograph it with a normal camera, all you will get is a brownish, grey blur.

It took me some time to cool down and recover from the exertion but a few minutes in the shade with a bottle of Mouton Cadet helped enormously.

I have also seen a few of these moths visiting my garden in the Netherlands, during very hot days.