Leaf-miner: The larvae initially form mines in leaves, later forming a cone
by rolling the leaf downwards from the tip (UKMoths).
Orange
brown to rust-coloured lower-surface blotch, mostly near the midrib.
Towards the end of the mining activity silk is deposited in the
mine; this causes the mine to contract, folding the leaf over the
mine. Frass packed in a corner of the mine. After some time the
larva vacates the mine and lives free then in a leaf tip that has
been rolled downwards and fixed with silk. Two of such cones are
made and eaten out from the inside. Pupation in a membranous, shining
cocoon at the underside of a leaf (Bladmineerders van Europa).
The
mine is also illustrated in British
leafminers.
Larva: The larvae of moths have a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding), six thoracic legs and abdominal legs (see examples).
Described by SCS Brown (1947a) (Bladmineerders van Europa).
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
In a cocoon under a white membrane; underside of leaf (British
leafminers).
Adult:
The adult is illustrated in UKMoths.
The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: June, September (British
leafminers).
Time
of year - adults: 2-3 generations from May to October (UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: This moth is an adventive species,
probably introduced with azalea and rhodedendron plants, that is
now spreading throughout Britain including Lancashire (Greater Manchester,
Chorlton) (UKMoths),
Hampshire (Fleet) (British
leafminers); Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, East Cornwall,
East Kent, East Suffolk, Glamorgan, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, North Wiltshire, South Devon, South Lancashire, Surrey, West Cornwall,
West Kent, West Suffolk and Worcestershire (NBN
Atlas).
See also British
leafminers distribution map.
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Austria,
Belgium, Czech Republic, French mainland, Germany, Italian mainland,
Luxembourg, Madeira, Poland, Portuguese mainland, Russia - Central,
Slovakia, Sweden and The Netherlands (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
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