Phyllonorycter cavella (Zeller, 1846)

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.

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).