Caloptilia cuculipennella (Hübner, 1796) Species
Last modified: Sept. 14, 2023, 12:58 p.m.
A fairly common species throughout Belgium. With the present knowledge of leafmines, more frequently observed than in the past.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Gracillariidae > Subfamily: Gracillariinae > Tribus: Gracillariini > Genus: Caloptilia > Species: Caloptilia cuculipennella
- Vernacular names
- Grauwe steltmot (NL), Feathered slender (EN), Liguster-Blatttütenfalter (DE)
- Synonyms
- Caloptilia alaudella (Duponchel, 1840) and Parornix avellanella (Stainton, 1854)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Fré Ch. 1858. Catalogue des Microlépidoptères de la Belgique. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 2: 45–162. On page 147 (as alaudellum). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan: 12–13,5 mm.
Greyish-white ground colour with brownish dots and transverse lines of which the pre-discal one is the most conspicuous.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Genitalia
Caterpillar
Yellowish with light brown head capsule.
Mine
First instars live in a transparant serptentine mine in which the frass is arranged in a continuous line. Later on the mine becomes a whitish blotch with the black frass concentrated in one corner. When this blotch is enlarged, the leaf edge is turned over it, and the last instars live freely on the leaf.
See also gracillariidae.net and bladmineerders.be.
Bionomics
The free living caterpillars construct a typical, downwards turned, conical leaf roll, sometimes called pepperbox, of which the bases is the broadest. The last instar bites a circular exit hole in that papperbox.
It pupates in a pure white hammock-like cocoon which is attached between this exit hole and another point in the pepperbox. After emergence of the adult, the pupal skin protrudes from the exit hole.
The moths are active during late afternoon around their food plant and later come to light.
Flight periods
The adults fly in one generation a year: emerging during September, overwintering and then flying until May.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Ligustrum vulgare
- Host plant (genera):
- Fraxinus, Syringa and Ligustrum
The larvae feed on: Ligustrum vulgare, Fraxinus excelsior and Syringa vulgaris.
