Prays ruficeps (Heinemann, 1854)

dark ash-bud moth

mine

Oviposition on the fruit stalk. From there a short gallery runs up. It soon sinks in; the larva eventually feeds on the seed

host plants

Oleaceae, monophagous

Fraxinus excelsior.

phenology

Larvae in July – August; possibly a later generation as well, of which the larvae live in the buds (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

BE not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2010).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

From Fennoscandia to the Pyrenees, Alps, and Hungary, and from Britain to the Ukraine (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

pupa

Described by Patočka (1999b), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).

synonyms

Prays rustica, rusticus Haworth, 1828.

notes

Not a leafminer!

references

Baldizzone (2004a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Hering (1957a), Huemer (2012a), Huisman & Koster (1995a), Huisman, Koster, van Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2001a, 2004a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Leutsch (2011a), Patočka (1999b), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a), Schütze (1899a), Skala (1951b), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Wörz (1957a).