Pistacia lentiscus, France, Corsica, Belgodère, plage de Lozari © Stéphane Claerebout

Schinus molle; from Hering (1927a).

mine

Epidermal, whitish or brownish corridor, later blotch. The mine can be upper- or lower-surface. In the end the mine is somewhat contracted and has fine folds. The older larva lives free, in a rolled leaf.

host plants

Anacardiacea, oligophagous

Pistacia atlantica, lentiscus; Rhus doica; Schinus molle; Searsia tripartita.

Klimesch (1970a, 1979a) writes that in the Canary Islands the species has also been discovered on Myrica faya (currently transferred to a genus of its own: Morella faya), a plant belonging to an unrelated family (Myricaceae). Indeed is coruscans used presently as a biological control agent of M. faya in the island of Hawaii, where the plant is an invasive pest. However, there is some doubt if one and the same moth species is involved (Leen & Markin, 1996a); see also the note below.

phenology

Larvae in March, April (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

Not known from the Benelux countries (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

SW Europe, but also Thrace (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

synonyms

Caloptilia, Gracillaria, schinella (Walsingham, 1907); C. terebinthiella (Chrétien, 1910); de spelling variants corruscans and coruscana are incorrect.

notes

Aguiar & Karsholt (2006a) consider C. schinella as a valid species, living on Myrica faya. Leen & Markin and Markin write about a “Caloptilia nr. schinella”, collection on Myrica faya in Madeira and the Açores, and employed in Hawaii in the biological control of this invasive pest.

references

Aguiar & Karsholt (2006a), Hering (1927a, 1936b, 1957a); Klimesch (1942a, 1970a, 1979a), Leen & Markin (1996a), Markin (2001a), Triberti (1985a), Triberti & Braggio (2011a).

14/02/2017