Vicia sepium, Belgium, prov. Namur, Furfooz, Parc National de Furfooz © Stéphane Claerebout

underside of the mine

Vicia sepium, Belgium, prov. Namur, Dinant; © Jean-Yves Baugnée

another specimen

underside of the same mine

Lathyrus pratensis, Luxemburg, Dudelange, Haerdt

larva in opened mine; upper surface of the mine

mine

Lower surface tentiform mine that occupies an entire leaflet; lower epidermis strongly folded. Fully developed mines are strongly inflated and the leaflet is so completely folded over the mine that the latter becomes practically invisible. In this stage the larva has consumed also all tissue in the roof of the mine, making the mine thereby very conspicuous. The pupa in a cocoon that consists of a loose lining of the walls of the mine.

host plants

Fabaceae, oligophagous

Lathyrus vernus; Lotus; Medicago; Trifolium alpestre, medium, pratense, repens, rubens; Vicia dumetorum, sativa, sepium.

Preference for Vicia sepium (Hering, 1957a).

phenology

Larvae in July and August – September (Emmet, Watkinson & Wilson, 1985a). However, in the UK final instar larvae have also been found in the months of November, December, and January (Bond, 2000a; Henwood, 1999a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

NE not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

Europe, except the Balkan Peninsula (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

pupa

Cremaster with two pairs of spines. The inner pair has shifted so far sidewards that the inner and outer pairs seem to form one whole. The inner spines are fairly slender, the outer ones are stout, and the two combined look like one long spine with a broad base (Gregor & Patočka, 2001a; Patočka & Turčáni, 2005a).

synonyms

Lithocolletis nigrescentella.

notes

Preference for plants that are overgrown by grass, or are growing in shade (Emmet ao, 1985a).

references

Beiger (1955a, 1960a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Bond (2000a_, Buhr (1936a), Buszko (1992b), Buszko & Beshkov (2004a), Deschka (1968a), Deutsch (2012a), Emmet, Watkinson & Wilson (1985a), Gregor & Patočka (2001a), Hartig (1939a), Henwood, 1999a, Hering (1924b, 1957a), Huber (1969a), Huisman ao (2004a), Klimesch (1958c), Maček (1999a), Michna (1975a), Nel & Varenne (2014a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Robbins (1991a), Sønderup (1949a), Starý (1930a), Steurer (1988a), Szőcs (1977a, 1978a), Watkinson (1975a), Yefremova & Kravchenko (2015a).