Phyllonorycter blancardella (Fabricius, 1761)
brown apple midget

Malus sylvestris, België, prov. Namen, Viroinval, Nismes, RN Montagne-aux-Buis © Stéphane Claerebout

same leaf, underside

the identification has been confirmed by breeding.


Malus domestica, Zweeloo, Pietersberg

Malus domestica Pietersberg, opened mine
mine
Lower surface tentiform mine with a yellow-green epidermis that has a few folds. Pupation within the mine. The pupa is amber or chestnut brown, and lies in a white cocoon. Generally the frass is accumulated in a corner of the mine (like in the lower picture), but sometimes a small quantity is incorporated in the wall of the cocoon.
host plants
Rosaceae, monophagous
Malus astracanica, baccata, coronaria, domestica, floribunda, fusca, ringo, x robusta, sylvestris.
Records in literature from other plant genera, such as (Amelanchier Cotoneaster, Crataegus, Mespilus germanica; Prunus; Pyrus; Sorbus aucuparia, coronaria) are either dubious or concern exceptional observations (Triberti, 2007a).
phenology
Two generations; in Britain larvae are found in May – June and September – October Emmet, Watkinson & Wilson,1985a).
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
Entire Europe, till the Ukraine and central Anatolia (Triberti, 2007a).
pupa
synonyms
Lithocolletis blancardella.
notes
An extensive monograph about the morphology and biology of this species has been published by Pottinger & LeRoux (1971a.
A fruit crop pest (Baggiolini, 1960a). Introduced in North America, where too it has become a pest.
references
Anagnou–Veroniki, Papaioannou–Souliotis, Karanstasi & Giannopolitis (2008a), Baggiolini (1960a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Body, Burlat & Giron (2015a), Body, Kaiser, Dubreuil ao (2013a), Braggion (2013a), Briolini (1961a), Buhr (1935b, 1964a), Buszko (1992b), Deutsch (2012a), Deutschmann (2008a), Drăghia (1970a), Emmet, Watkinson & Wilson (1985a), van Frankenhuyzen & Houtman (1972a), van Frankenhuyzen Houtman & Kabos (1982a), Gregor & Patočka (2001a), Haase (1942a), Hartig (1939a), Hellers (2017a), Hering (1921a, 1957a, 1961a), Huber (1969a), Huemer (1988a), Huemer & Erlebach (2003a), Jaworski (2009a), Kirichenko, Augustin & Kenis (2018a), Klimesch (1950c), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Kvičala (1938a), A & Z Laštůvka (2011a, 2014a), Leutsch (2011a), Maček (1999a), Matošević, Pernek, Dubravac & Barić (2009a), Nel & Varenne (2014a), Nowakowski (1954a), Olivella (2002a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Pinzari, Pinzari & Zilli (2013a), Plóciennik, Pawlikiewicz & Jaworski (2011a), Pottinger & LeRoux (1971a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sefrová (2005a), Skala (1941a, 1951a), Starý (1930a). Sønderup (1949a), Szőcs (1977a, 1978a, 1981a), Tourlan (1980a), Triberti (2007a), Zoerner (1969a, 1970a).