Caloptilia elongella (Linnaeus, 1761)
pale red slender

Alnus glutinosa, Nieuwendam; young mine

Alnus glutinosa, Nieuwendam; old, contracted mine and leaf roll (leaf upperside)

same leaf, underside

Almus glutinosa, Amstelveen; unusual mines, with exceptionally long initial galleries

Alnus glutinosa, Belgium, prov. Hainaut, Chimay, Etang de Virelles © Stéphane Claerebout

leaf toll

mature larva

pupa in cocoon
mine
The mine begins with a, usually rather short, gallery, that opens into (and often is overrun by) a silvery epidermal upper-surface blotch with light brown frass. When the mine gets older it contracts and becomes en elongate blister or even a tube. Soon the larva leaves the mine and continues feeding within a downwards rolled leaf margin, that is fastened with silk. Pupation in a transparant, yellow-shining cocoon, generally at the leaf margin.
host plants
Betulaceae, monophagous
Alnus glutinosa, incana.
phenology
Larvae are found from March till October, without a clear seasonal maximum; hibernation as adult.
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
All of Europe (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
larva
pupa
Described by Patočka & Zach (1995a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).
synonyms
Gracillaria elongella.
notes
Also the rolled leaf margin disinguishes elonngella from the much rarer C. falconipennella: the leaf roll of elongella is much larger (Huisman ao, 2003a).
references
Ahr (1966a), Beiger (1980a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Biesenbaum (2010a), Boot (1989a), Brown (1947a), Buhr (1935a, 1964a), Buszko (1992b), Corley, Marabuto & Pires (2007a), Corley, Rosete, Gonçalves ao (2018a), Deutschmann (2008a), Drăghia (1972a), Emmet, Watkinson & Wilson (1985a), Haase (1942a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1924b, 1957a), Huisman ao (2003a), Jaworski (2009a), Klimesch (1950c), Kozlov & Kullberg (2010a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Maček (1999a), Nowakowski (1954a), Opheim (1977a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Patočka & Zach (1995a), De Prins (2010a)l De Prins & Steeman (2013a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Sønderup (1949a), Szőcs (1977a), Zoerner (1969a, 1970a).