Caloptilia cuculipennella
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Caloptilia cuculipennella |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Caloptilia cuculipennella | ||||||||||||
| ( Huebner , 1796) |
Caloptilia cuculipennella is a small butterfly of the family of moths (Gracillariidae).
features
The moths have elongated wings . The wingspan is about 12 mm. The cream-colored forewings have a characteristic pattern of light and dark brown spots. The hind wings are brownish in color without any particular pattern. The femora and tibia of the anterior and middle legs are noticeably hairy. In the resting position, the moths stand upright on their front and middle legs, while the rear legs lie against the abdomen . The caterpillars are whitish, yellowish or light green in color and have a dark yellow to brownish head capsule.
distribution
Caloptilia cuculipennella is widespread in Europe, but is considered rare. Their occurrence extends in the north to Fennos Scandinavia , the Baltic States and the British Isles , in the south to the Mediterranean area including the Iberian Peninsula and in the east to the Middle East .
Way of life
The species forms one to two generations per year. The winter generation flies from August, overwinters, and can be observed in the following spring until May. The species uses various representatives of the olive family (Oleaceae) as host plants . These include ash trees ( Fraxinus ), especially the common ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ), privet ( Ligustrum ), especially the common privet ( Ligustrum vulgare ), as well as stone linden ( Phillyrea ), jasmine and the common lilac ( Syringa vulgaris ). The caterpillars mine on the upper side of the leaf. Later the caterpillar leaves the mine and spins a bag of leaves. This is approximately conical, with the two openings being spun closed by folding the leaf. In the leaf bag, the caterpillar continues to develop until pupation . It eats the leaf from the inside. Finally, the caterpillar spins an approximately 9 mm long white cocoon, which is fixed to the leaf at both ends, similar to a hammock. A spinning thread is necessary at one end for this.
photos
Specimen with spread wings
Leaf mine
Caterpillar in opened leaf bag
Leaf bag on a common ash
Leaf bag opened
Cocoon in the leaf bag
Two cocoons after leaving the moth
Individual evidence
- ↑ Caloptilia cuculipennella . www.ukmoths.org.uk. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ↑ a b Caloptilia cuculipennella in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved August 15, 2020
- ↑ Caloptilia cuculipennella . bladmineerders.nl. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
Web links
- Caloptilia cuculipennella at Lepiforum eV
- Caloptilia cuculipennella near Naturraum Stux (Michael Stemmer)