Last modified: Dec. 5, 2023, 12:55 p.m.
A rare species in Belgium, more distributed in the northern part.
Native
Head white; forewing ground colour white, the ochreous pattern consisting of a transversal band near the base of the wing, two chevrons pointing distally, one costal stria just before the apex; a small longitudinal line just before the apex and a dark brown hook in the apical cilia. In some specimens these chevrons are interrupted in the middle.
A rather small (diameter ca 15 mm) semicircular, tentiform mine at the underside of a leaf, most of the time situated at the margin of a leaf or leaflet. The leaf margin is folded over the mine. At the undersite many small, longitudinal folds.
The black frass in concentrated in one corner of the mine.
See also gracillariidae.net and bladmineerders.be.
A large, but not tough, white cocoon attached to the roof of the mine.
Pupation inside a whitish cocoon in the mine. The species hibernates in the pupal stage between leaves on the ground. The pupal skin protrudes from the mine after emergence of the adult.
The adults rest on tree trunks during the day and later come to light.
Two generations a year: April–early June and late June to early August.
The species lives on Quercus species, with a preference for Quercus robur, but also on Q. petraea and Q. pubescens.
Dry, sandy and xerothermic places where the larval host plant grows.
