Parectopa robiniella Clemens, 1863
locust digitate leafminer
on Robinia
Robinia pseudoacacia, Elsloo (Fr), 17.ix.2018 © Gerrit Tuinstra
incipient mines
Robinia pseudoacacia, Makkinga, 17.ix.2018 © Gerrit Tuinstra
Robinia pseudoacacia, België, prov. Antwerpen, Mol, Molse Nete, Rijsberg, 29.viii.2018 © Carina Van Steenwinkel
Robinia pseudoacacia, Bulgaria, Varna © Stéphane Claerebout: completed mines
the egg and the lower-surface initial mine
initial mine, lighted from behind
Robinia pseudoacacia, France, dépt. Tarn, Cambounès © Steve Wullaert & Zoe Vanstraelen
larva in the mine; differences in shade show the overlapping of an under-surface mine and an upper-surface one
youth mine
lighted from behind
mine
Oviposition at the underside of the leaf, in an axil of the midrib. The larve starts by making a lower-surface blotch, but then works itself to the leave’s upper surface and makes an upper-surface blotch on top of the midrib. The blotch is elongate with lobe-like extensions, and whitish in colour. Larva solitary. Pupation external.
hostplants
Fabaceae, monophagous
Robinia pseudoacacia.
BENELUX
BE recorded (Bagnée, 2014a).
NE Recorded at several localities in 2018.
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).
distribution within Europe
From Germany and Poland to the Pyrenees, Italy, and Romania, and from France to the Ukraine (Fauna Europaea, 2010).
larva
Greenish.
pupa
Described by Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).
notes
North American species, that made its appearance in Europe in 1970 near Milano. Now widely distributed in south and central Europe, seemingly expanding towards the NW. Considered a pest in southern Europe because Acacia is an important nectar source for commercial apiculture.
references
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Microlepidoptera in Bayern (2010a), Baugnée (2014a), Béguinot (2010a), Buszko & Beshkov (2004a), Csóka (2001a, 2003a), Hellrigl (2006a), Huemer & Erlebach (2003a), Huemer ao (1992a), Ivinskis & Rimsaite (2008a), Jaworski (2009a), Kirichenko, Augustin & Kenis (2018a), Kollár (2007a), Kollár & Hrubík (2009a), Kurz & Kurz (2007a), Lakatos ao (2005a), Maček (1999a), Martinez & Chambon (1987a), Matošević, Pernek, Dubravac & Barić (2009a), Melika ao (2006a), Olivella (2005a), Parenti & Varalda (2000a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Sauer (1981a), Sefrová (2005a), Stammer (2016a), Stolnicu (2007a), Szőcs (1977a), Tomov & Krusteva (2007a), Ureche (2006a, 2010a), Walczak (2011a).