Aristaea issikii

Description

Aristaea issikii is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from Honshū, Japan. The wingspan is 8.2-10.5 mm. The larvae feed on Aster ageratoides. They mine the leaves of their host plant. There are four instars. In the second instar, the larva makes a large blotch-mine, which occupies an area between the middle vein and margin of leaf, sometimes almost the entire surface. The larva in the third and fourth instars consumes the leaf-tissues within the blotch-mine almost completely. In fully matured condition, the mine becomes a tentiform-type, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles on both the lower and upper sides of the leaf. Pupation takes place inside a whitish, boat-shaped cocoon, which is usually located on the lower side of the same leaf or another one.