Last modified: May 5, 2024, 2:39 p.m.
A fairly common species in Belgium.
Native
The first instars make a narrow, but long, tortuous gallery in the lower epidermis, containing light brownish frass. Later on this mine is widened into a white blotch.
See also gracillariidae.net and bladmineerders.be.
Whitish cocoon inside the final roll of cone.
Tissue feeding instars line the inside of the mine with silk. The mine becomes visible from the upperside as white patches. Later on, the mine turns brownish and the leaf is folded over the mine. The frass is concentrated in a corner of the mine. The last instars leave the mine and live freely under a downwards folded leaf tip. The last instar constructs a final fold, which sometimes causes the leaf to roll op longitudinally or otherwise resembles a little the cone made by several Caloptilia species. Pupation takes place in this roll or cone, which in most cases drops to the ground. The pupal skin protrudes from the cocoon after emergence of the moth.
There are 2 generation per year: the adults fly in April–May and again in July–August.
The larva feeds on several species of Hypericum, mainly H. perforatum, but also on: H. pulchrum, H. hirsutum or H. tetrapterum.