Phyllonorycter rajella

Phyllonorycter rajella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from all of Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula and Greece.

Phyllonorycter rajella
Phyllonorycter rajella Moscow Oblast
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gracillariidae
Genus: Phyllonorycter
Species:
P. rajella
Binomial name
Phyllonorycter rajella
Synonyms
  • Phalaena rajella Linnaeus, 1758
  • Tinea alnifoliella Hubner, 1796
Mined alder leaf
Larva

The wingspan is 7–9 mm. The forewings are fuscous or ochreous, in the female more whitish towards base; a pointed white median streak from base to middle, edged with dark fuscous above; four costal and three dorsal posterior shining white wedge-shaped spots, edged anteriorly and first costal posteriorly with dark fuscous, first dorsal broad, before first costal; a round black apical dot; an ill-defined dark hook in apical cilia. Hindwings are grey. The larva is greenish-white; dorsal line green; head pale brown [2]

There are two generations per year with adults on wing in May and again in August.[3]

The larvae feed on Alnus cordata, Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana, Alnus oregona and Alnus viridis, mining the leaves of their host plant.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Fauna Europaea
  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. ^ Kimber, Ian. "15.067 BF345 Phyllonorycter rajella". ukmoths. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  4. ^ Ellis, W N. "Phyllonorycter rajella". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
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