Caloptilia falconipennella (Hübner, 1813) Species
Last modified: Dec. 12, 2023, 4:05 p.m.
A rare species in Belgium, but probably overlooked.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Gracillariidae > Subfamily: Gracillariinae > Tribus: Gracillariini > Genus: Caloptilia > Species: Caloptilia falconipennella
- Vernacular names
- Variabale elzensteltmot (NL), Scarce alder slender (EN)
- 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 145 (as G.[racillaria Falconipennella. H.). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
The autumn generation is greyish brown with some very small costal dots. The summer generation is brownish with a yellowish, trapezoid spot in the middle of the costa. This spot is sometimes vaguely visible in the autumn generation as well.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Whitish with light brown head capsule.
Mine
A very short gallery on the underside of a leaf at the beginning, which is later on covered by a rather small blotch mine.
See also gracillariidae.net and bladmineerders.be.
Bionomics
The free living instars turn the leaf edge downwards and spin it into some kind of flap. This flap is changed two to three times. In some rare cases the leaf edge is turned into a real leaf roll. The species hibernates in the adult stage. The moths are very elusive and not often seen.
Flight periods
The adults fly in one generation a year: emerging during September, overwintering and then flying until May.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Alnus glutinosa
The monophagous larvae feed on Alnus glutinosa.
