Seq # 265720010

Xenolechia aethiops (Humphreys & Westwood, 1845) Species

Last modified: March 3, 2024, 10:53 a.m.


First Belgian record in 2020, probably overlooked in earlier years.


Details

Classification
Family: Gelechiidae > Subfamily: Gelechiinae > Tribus: Litini > Genus: Xenolechia > Species: Xenolechia aethiops
Vernacular names
Dopheidezwerfmot (NL), Moorland Groundling, Scorched Heath (EN)
First mention in Belgium
Wullaert S. 2021. Resultaten van de Werkgroep Bladmineerders uit 2019 en 2020 met meldingen van 9 nieuwe soorten voor de Belgische fauna (Elachistidae, Cosmopterigidae, Gelechiidae, Noctuidae, Tineidae en Tortricidae) — Phegea 49(3): 109–124. On page 116. view page
Status

Native


Distribution


Imago

Wingspan 15–20 mm. Obvious are the long, narrow, black forewing with black dots and with raised dark scales. Hindwings grey.

Museum specimens

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Specimens in nature

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Caterpillar

The larva can best be searched in June–early July.

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Bionomics

The larva mines at first in mainly Erica sp. Later it lives in a silken gallery amongst the leaves of Erica or Calluna vulgaris, close to the ground, and mainly feeds in mosses of the genus CladoniaThe adults become active from late afternoon and later come to light.

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Flight periods

One generation a year in April–May.


Observed on

Host plant (species):
Calluna vulgaris and Erica cinerea
Host plant (genera):
Erica
Substrates:
Lichens

Lichens of the genus Cladonia, and the lower leaves of Erica sp. and Calluna vulgaris.

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Habitat

Moors and heathland. It has a preference for heathland that has been burnt one or two years earlier.

No pictures yet!