Last modified: March 16, 2024, 8:47 a.m.
A rather common but local species in Belgium, mainly known from the southern provinces, especially in the limestone area.
Native
The caterpillar is dark yellow to light brown. The thoracic segments are usually broader than the abdominal ones. Its head capsule, first thoracic segment and last abdominal segment are blackish.
The mine consists of an opaque white gallery on the upperside of a leaflet, soon widening into a whitish blotch and most of the time occupying one half of the leaf. But in later stages it covers the whole leaflet and turns a little bit darker. Frass is ejected through a hole in the epidermis.
See also bladmineerders.be
No cocoon is formed.
The eggs are oviposited on the upperside of a leaf. In many cases each leaflet of leaf contains one egg. Leaves close to the ground are preferred. The last instar caterpillar applies some spinning inside the mine, causing the leaflet to fold lengthwise and envelops the entire mine.
The pupation takes place inside the mine without constructing a cocoon. The species hibernates in the pupal stage, among leaf litter on the soil.
The adults fly in two generations a year: from May to June and again during July–August.
The species if monophagous on Rosa-species, especially Rosa canina.
This species occurs in parks, gardens, ...