Phyllonorycter rajella

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

Mined alder leaf
Larva

Phyllonorycter rajella
Scientific classification
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

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. They create a lower-surface tentiform mine, usually in the axle of a thick lateral vein and there is one strong lengthwise fold. Pupation takes place in a tough off-white cocoon that is attached to the floor and the roof of the mine. Most frass is incorporated in the sides of the cocoon.[4]

References
  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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