Phyllonorycter cavella (Zeller, 1846)
gold birch midget
on Betula
gold birch midget
on Betula
Betula, Denmark © Mathias Holm
larva
Betula, Bergen NH © John van Roosmalen
underside of the mine
larva
Betula, Belgium, prov. Namur, Viroinval, Nismes, RN Montagne-aux-Buis © Steve Wullaert
larva
mine
Relatively large, lower-surface tentiform mine; epidermis rather strongly folded. As the picture above show, the living larva is strikingly uniformly yellow to brownish yellow; this may well be a specific character. Pupa in the mine, in a white cocoon.
host plants
Betulaceae, monophagous (?)
Betula pendula, pubescens.
Rarely seen also on Prunus cerasus; see below.
phenology
Larvae from August till end-October; hibernation as pupa (Emmet ao, 1985a).
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
Europe, except Ireland, the Iberian and Balkan Peninsula, and the Mediterranean Islands (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
pupa
Cremaster exceptionally long and (seen from the side) flat (Gregor & Patočka, 2001a).
synonyms
Lithocolletis cavella.
A specimen bred from Prunus cerasus has been described as a separate subspecies, Lithocolletis cavella milleri Povolný & Gregor 1950.
parasitoids, predators
notes
Kuznetzov & Baryshnikova cite as a host plant “Ulmus, Betula, occasionally Salix“. that seems a mistake.
references
Bachmaier (1965a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Buhr (1964a), Buszko (1992b), Emmet, Watkinson & Wilson (1985a), Gregor & Patočka (2001a), Hering (1957a), Jaworski (2009a), Kirichenko, Triberti, Akulov ao (2019a), Klimesch (1950c), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein, Gielis, Huisman, ao (1988a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Kuznetzov & Baryshnikova (2006a), Langohr & Schreurs (1987a), Maček (1999a), Nel & Varenne (2014a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Povolný & Gregor (1950a), De Prins (1998a), Robbins (1991a), van Roosmalen, Wijker & Knijnsberg (2013a), Schütze (1931a), Starý (1930a), Szőcs (1977a), Zoerner (1969a).