Kessleria alternans (Staudinger, 1870)

mine

Irregular mine. Older larvae live free in a silken tube.

hostplants

Saxifragaceae, narrowly monophagous

Saxifraga oppositifolia, paniculata.

Mines only in the broad leaves of S. paniculata. In S. oppositifolia the larvae immediately begin making their silken tubes, to completely devour the leaves from there.

phenology

The larvae probably hibernate twice.

distribution within Europe

Alps, Caucasus, 1600-2200 m.

larva

Head light brown; prothoracic shield light greenish brown, anal shield greenish brown; ground colour of dull greenish brown with reddish brown dorsal line, subdorsal line formed by disjunct reddish brown spots; pinacula greenish brown; thoracic feet light brown. Pictures in Schmid.

references

Baldizzone (2008a), Huemer & Tarmann (1991a), Huemer & Mutanen (2015a), Schmid (2019a).