Bucculatrix nigricomella

Bucculatrix nigricomella
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Bucculatricidae
Genus:	Bucculatrix
Species:	B. nigricomella
Binomial name
	Bucculatrix nigricomella; (Zeller, 1839)
Synonyms
	Lyonetia nigricomella Zeller, 1839; Bucculatrix albipedella Hofmann, 1874;

Bucculatrix nigricomella is a species of moth of the family Bucculatricidae. It was first described in 1839 by Philipp Christoph Zeller. It is found in most of Europe (except the Balkan Peninsula).^[1]

The wingspan is 7–8 mm. The head is dark fuscous. Antennal eyecaps whitish, forewings shining greyish-bronzy, pairs of costal and dorsal undefined ochreous whitish spots before middle and at 2/3. Hindwings are rather dark grey. The larva is greenish or yellowish; head pale brown; segment 2. On the Continent ([Europe]) the usual form of the imago is almost unicolorous, the spots being nearly or quite obsolete, but this form does not seem to have occurred in England.^[2]

Adults are on wing from April to May and again in August. There are two generations per year.^[3]

The larvae feed on Leucanthemum vulgare.^[4] They mine the leaves of their host plant.

Plant of Chrysanthemum leucanthemum with mined leaves
Mining larva
Externally feeding larva

References

^ Akulov, E. N., Ponomarenko, M. G., & Kirichenko, N. I. (2019). Exploring fauna of Microlepidoptera in South Siberia: novel regional records and interception of quarantine species. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 12(4), 597-612.
^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
^ Homan, R. (2011). Bucculatrix nigricomella (Zell.)(Lep.: Bucculatricidae) feeding in February. Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation, 123(2), 60.
^ TRIBERTI, P., & BRAGGIO, S. (2011). Remarks on some families of leaf-mining Microlepidoptera from central-southern Sardinia, with some ecological considerations (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae, Bucculatricidae, Gracillariidae). Biodiversity of Marganai and Montimannu (Sardinia). Research in the framework of the ICP forests network., 767-781.

External links

Media related to Bucculatrix nigricomella at Wikimedia Commons
bladmineerders.nl
UKmoths

This article relating to the superfamily Gracillarioidea is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Akulov, E. N., Ponomarenko, M. G., & Kirichenko, N. I. (2019). Exploring fauna of Microlepidoptera in South Siberia: novel regional records and interception of quarantine species. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 12(4), 597-612.

[2] Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description

[3] Homan, R. (2011). Bucculatrix nigricomella (Zell.)(Lep.: Bucculatricidae) feeding in February. Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation, 123(2), 60.

[4] TRIBERTI, P., & BRAGGIO, S. (2011). Remarks on some families of leaf-mining Microlepidoptera from central-southern Sardinia, with some ecological considerations (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae, Bucculatricidae, Gracillariidae). Biodiversity of Marganai and Montimannu (Sardinia). Research in the framework of the ICP forests network., 767-781.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]