Cyprus, Nikikleia © Ian Barton

larva

mine

The mine mostly begins at the leaf-tip, and may occupy the entire width of the blade. Most frass in the lower part of the mine.

hostplants

Poaceae, broadly oligophagous

Hordeum; Triticum.

In the Near East a serious pest on cereal crops; also on various, not specifically named, wild grasses.

phenology

The eggs are deposited op the ground or on plants around April. One or two weeks later the eggs hatch; the young larvae enter the soil, make a cocoon and enter summer diapause. When they are awoken by the winter rains the climb upon grass plants and start to mine; mining larvae in winter and early spring. When the winter rains fail to come the larva may skip for another year.

distribution within Europe

Mainland Greece, Cyprus (Fauna Europaea, 2011).

larva

Body fusiform, pale, pinacula black, minute; head dark brown, like the anal plate and the divided prothoracic plate.

notes

The systematic position of the genus Syringopais is moot. The Fauna Europaea (2011) classifies it in the Autostichidae. But also Deoclonidae, Gelechiidae, Oecophoridae and even Scythridae are mentioned in the literature.

references

Amsel & Hering (1931a), Hering (1957a), Melifronides (1977a).

16/04/2014