Caloptilia semifascia (Haworth, 1828) Species
Last modified: Nov. 25, 2024, 12:13 p.m.
Discovered new for Belgium in 2002 in LI. It has been confused with Caloptilia hauderi (Rebel, 1906), which thus far has not been found in Belgium.
A very rare and local species in our country.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Gracillariidae > Subfamily: Gracillariinae > Tribus: Gracillariini > Genus: Caloptilia > Species: Caloptilia semifascia
- Vernacular names
- Gehaakte steltmot (NL), Feldahorn-Blatttütenmotte (DE)
- Synonyms
- Caloptilia onustella sensu auct., (Hübner, 1813)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Prins W. & Spronck R. 2004. Four new species for the Belgian fauna (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae, Coleophoridae and Tortricidae). — Phegea 32(2): 49–54. On page 49 (as Caloptilia semifascia (Haworth, 1828)). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 10–12 mm.
The adults of the first generation have a rather large yellowish blotch in the middle of the forewing costa, whereas in those of the second generation, this blotch is reduced to an inconspicuous whitish line.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Caterpillar pale green with a light brown head capsule.
Mine
The mine starts as a short serpentine on the underside of a leaf. Later instars live freely in a cone which they construct by spinning down the edge of the leaf. They make three cones in their life cycle, each one a little larger than the previous one, and most often on different leaves.
See also gracillariidae.net and bladmineerders.be.
Cocoon/pupa
Yellowish white cocoon.
Bionomics
The species seems to prefer the higher parts of Acer campestre trees and even trees that grow in forests, not trees in hedgerows. This might explain why the species is rarely met with.
The full-grown larva constructs a cocoon near the margin of a leaf, mostly on the underside.
The adults of the second generation hibernate and can be found till early May.
Flight periods
Two generations per year May–June and July/August and after hibernation May.
