Caloptilia elongella

Caloptilia elongella (commonly known as pale red slender)[2] is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from all of Europe east to eastern Russia. It is also found in North America from British Columbia, south to California and east in the north to New Hampshire and New York.

A longitudinally rolled alder leaf
Larvae

Pale red slender
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gracillariidae
Genus: Caloptilia
Species:
C. elongella
Binomial name
Caloptilia elongella
(Linnaeus, 1761)[1]
Synonyms

The wingspan is 14–16 millimetres (0.55–0.63 in). The forewings are deep reddish-ochreous, sometimes mixed or suftused with pale yellowish ; margins sometimes with darker dots ; often an indistinct pale yellowish triangular costal blotch before middle.Hindwings are rather dark grey.The larva is whitish or pale greenish ; dorsal line dark grey;head pale brownish or greenish.[3]

There are two generations per year, with adults on wing in June and again during September, after which they hibernate and reappear in spring.[4]

The larvae feed on Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana and Alnus minor. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine starts with a short gallery, that opens into (and is often overrun by) a silvery epidermal upper-surface blotch with light brown frass. Older mines contract and become en elongate blister or even a tube. Older larvae leave the mine and continue feeding within a downwards rolled leaf margin that is fastened with silk. Pupation takes place in a transparent, yellow-shining cocoon at the leaf margin.[5]

References

  1. "Caloptilia elongella (Linnaeus, 1761)". 2.5. Fauna Europaea. July 23, 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  2. "Pale Red Slender". Norfolk Moths. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  3. 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
  4. Kimber, Ian. "15.004 BF282 Caloptilia elongella (Linnaeus, 1761)". UKmoths. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  5. Ellis, W N. "Caloptilia elongella (Linnaeus, 1761) pale red slender". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 8 August 2019.



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