Phyllocnistis valentinensis Hering, 1936

on Salix

Salix alba, Geulle aan de Maas, Kasteel Geulle, 5.xi.2017 © Erik van Nieukerken

Salix alba, Belgium, prov. Limbourg, Gerhoeven, de Rammelaars, 14.viiii.2018 © Carina Van Steenwinkel

same mine, lighted from behind

another specimen

Salix alba, Belgium, prov. Limbourg, Kerkhoven, den Tip, 21.viii.2018 © Carina Van Steenwinkel

at the site of the pupation the leaf is rather strongly folded

same mine, lighted from behind

mine

Lower-surface, epidermal gallery with a very narrow, sharp, central frass line. The gallery remains within the blade of the single leaf. The gallery ends upon the leaf margin, that folds somewhat downwards here. In the resulting space pupation takes place.
Contrary to the silvery mines of Phyllocnistis saligna, these mines have a yellowish colour.

host plants

Salicaceae, monophagous

Salix alba, babylonica, x fragilis, purpurea, triandra.

Beiger (1979a) mentioned the species from Populus nigra; this is possible correct (same family as the known host plants), but still needs confirmation.

phenology

In Belgium and the Netherlands occupied mines are found from July till September. Hering writes that in Spain and the Ukraine larvae are found in May; perhaps in southern Europe two generations occur.

BENELUX

Mines of this species were found in the province of Zuid-Limburg (far SE of the country) and adjacent Germany in 2017. In 2018 they were found in Belgium as well, but later it appeared that the species does occur in Belgium from at least 2013 onwards.

distribution within Europe

Spain, Greece, bulgaria (Fauna Europaea, 2018); Austria (Deschka, 2014b); Belgium (2013); Netherlands, Germany (2017).

pupa

references

Beiger (1979a), Buszko & Beshkov (2004a), Deschka (2014b), Hering (1936b, 1957a), A & Z Laštůvka (2014a), Martynova (1955a), van Nieukerken & Wullaert (2018a), Pastorális, Elsner, Kopeček ao (2013a).