Leaf-miner
and case-bearer: Larva mines leaves of Caryophyllaceae. The
final case is tubular, 8 mm long, with a dorsal keel which forks
and continues as two ridges to the anal end of the case (British
leafminers).
The
larval case is very distinctive when fully grown as it is a pale
pink colour and has a double dorsal keel (UKMoths).
Larva
in a trivalved tubular silken case of 8 mm long, with a mouth angle
of 25°-30°. The case is pale brown. A unique detail is the
presence of a double dorsal keel, but this only occurs when the
larva is fully developed: the foremost part of the keel remains
single, but already the fork appears before the middle (Bladmineerders van Europa).
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Case
and mine of Coleophora lithargyrinella on Stellaria
holostea
Image: © Rob Edmunds (British
leafminers) |
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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 Emmet et al. (1996a) (Bladmineerders van Europa).
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
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: May (British
leafminers).
Time
of year - adults: Univoltine - being found in June and July
(UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Very widespread throughout Britain,
but is found sparingly and locally (UKMoths)
including Anglesey, Berkshire, Caernarvonshire, Cardiganshire, Denbighshire, Dorset, Herefordshire,
Kirkudbrightshire. Merionethshire, Monmouthshire, North Aberdeenshire, North Devon, North Essex, Pembrokeshire, South Essex,
West Gloucestershire, West Kent, West Norfolk and West Suffolk (NBN
Atlas).
It
favours two habitats, being found in coastal areas, where Sea campion
grows, or woodland - where its foodplant is stitchwort (UKMoths).
Also
recorded in the Republic of Ireland (Fauna Europaea and National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Austria,
Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Danish mainland, Finland,
French mainland, Germany, Hungary, Italian mainland, Latvia, Lithuania,
Norwegian mainland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,
Switzerland and The Netherlands (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
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