Last modified: April 10, 2021, 2:12 p.m.
A very local and rare species in Belgium. Formerly only recorded from BR but during the last decennia also found in several localities in Flanders.
Native
Head white; forewing ground colour silvery white, a little darker with yellowish hue in the apical area; five ochreous to brown costal striae of which the second one is prolonged to the dorsum, thus forming a narrow transversal band; a black spot in the apical area from which two dark brown hooks depart into the cilia, forming a horizontal "V".
A very long, rather broad, winding corridor on the upperside of a leaf; underside mines occur regularly. The mine never crosses itself. A central continuous dark brown and sharply defined frassline, distinguising this species from Phyllocnistis xenia.
See also gracillariidae.net and bladmineerders.be.
No real cocoon, just a flimsy spinning.
The egg is mainly oviposited on the upperside of a leaf, but underside mines occur not infrequently.
Pupation under a silken membrane at the end of the mine under a folded leaf margin.
Adults are active at dusk. The species hibernates in the adult stage.
Two generations a year: June–July and from August, hibernating till May.
The species is monophagous on Populus, mainly Populus tremula, but it has also been recorded on Populus alba.
Forest edges, open places in forests; parks and public gardens.
