Castanea sativa, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Retie, Prinsenpark © Carina Van Steenwinkel

mine with exuvium

frass pattern

Quercus x hispanica, Amsterdam-Oost; most mines occur in the basal half of the leaf

a young and a fully developed mine

the right one of the two above, lighted from behind (no larva or pupa to be seen: the mine contained a white parasitoid cocoon).

pupa in the mine

same mine, opened

mine

Small, oval, lower-surface tentiform mine, 9-14 mm long, mostly between two lateral veins. The lower epidermis with a single sharp fold (sometimes forked near its end). Pupa in very flimsy cocoon, that contains a bit of frass laterally and at the rear end.

host plants

Polyphagous on woody plants.

Carpinus betulus; Castanea sativa; Fagus sylvatica; Prunus; Quercus x hispanica, ilex, petraea, robur, suber; Tilia cordata.

Quercus species are the most important hostplants.

phenology

Larvae in July and October (Emmet, Watkinson & Wilson, 1985a), but sometimes an additional winter generation (see the note below).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

Europe south of the line Ireland, Britain, Denmark, Ukraine; also Macaronesian Islands (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

pupa

synonyms

Lithocolletis messaniella.

notes

In Britain a third larva generation has been found in the period December – March; the hibernating larvae do exclusively occur on Quercus ilex, that keeps its foliage during winter. How the species hibernates in regions without wintergreen oaks is unclear (Emmet, 1975b)

The mines illustrated above stem from a similar winter generation; Q. x turneri is a hybrid between Q. ilex and Q. robur and keeps its leaves during winter. Young mines, with active larvae, were found January 20th, kept in an unheated room, and provided pupae a month later.

Gregor & Patočka (2001a) wrote that the cocoon of the winter generation is almost entirely covered with frass. This does not apply to the Dutch material.

The species has been introduced into New Zealand and Australia, and has turned out as and aggressive invasive. The species not only lives on oaks there but also on other genera, viz. Nothofagus; it is considered a pest (New, 1981a).

references

Aguiar & Karsholt (2006a), Amsel & Hering (1933a), Baldizzone (2004a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Braggion (2013a), Buhr (1930a), Corley (2005a), Deutsch (2012a), Deutschmann (2008a), Emmet (1975b), Emmet, Watkinson & Wilson (1985a), Gregor & Patočka (2001a), Harper & Langmaid (1978a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1927a, 1932e,g, 1934a, 1936b, 1957a, 1967a), Hubble (2013b), Huisman, Koster, van Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2003a), Huisman, Kuchlein, van Nieukerken ao (1986a), Kirichenko, Augustin & Kenis (2018a), Klimesch (1950c, 1979a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), A & Z Laštuvka (2007a, 2014a), Nel & Varenne (2014a), New (1981a), van Nieukerken, Gielis, Huisman ao (1993a), Olivella (2002a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Robbins (1991a), Sammut & Mifsud (2008a), Schütze (1931a), Stolnicu (2007a, 2008a), Szőcs (1977a), Tomov & Dimitrov (2007a), Tourlan (1980a), Triberti & Braggio (2011a), Ureche (2010a).