Phyllobrostis daphneella Staudinger, 1859

Lepidoptera, Lyonetiidae

mine

Oviposition probably within, rather than upon, the leaf. The larva makes a full depth gallery. The frass is glued to the upper epidermis, giving the mine a blackish appearance. Part of the frass is also ejected through a slit in the lower epidermis. Pupation outside the mine. To leave the mine the larva makes a cut in the leaf margin, close to the leaf base. Pupa in a cocoon in a leaf fold.

hostplants

Thymelaeaceae, narrowly monophagous

Daphne gnidium.

phenology

Two generations; adults in April-May and August (Mey, 2006a).

distribution within Europe

Southern France, Iberian Peninsula, Corsica, Sardinia, Italy; also NW Africa (Mey, 2006a).

notes

Staudinger (1867a) and Hering (1957a) write that the older larvae live free among spun leaves. This is not confirmed by Mey (2006a), even though Staudinger is very explicit at this point.

references

Amsel & Hering (1933a), Buvat & Nel (1999a), Chrétien (1926a), Hering (1932e, 1936b, 1957a), Huertas Dionisio (2007a), Mey (2006a), Staudinger (1867a).

31/12/2012