Ectoedemia argyropeza (Zeller, 1839)
virgin pigmy
on Populus
Populus tremula, Belgium, prov. Luxembourg, Durbuy, la vieille Briqueterie de Rome, 11.x.2014 © Carina Van Steenwinkel
Populus tremula, Belgium, prov. Flemish Brabant, Molenstede-Dassenaarde, 6.xi.2016 © Carina Van Steenwinkel
the galled part of the petiole

Populus tremula, South England; green islands © Rob Edmunds

larva in the mine

larva in the petiole
mine
Oviposition on the petiole, c. 1 cm below the base of the leaf. The larva begins its life as a borer in the petiole, causing it to swell somewhat. When the leaf disc is reached the larva makes an elongate blotch between the midrib and the first lateral vein. Frass in two stripes parallel to the sides of the mine. Pupation external.
The larvae are active mainly at night, retreating into the petiole during daytime (Johansson ao, 1990a).
host plants
Salicaceae, narrowly monophagous
Populus tremula.
phenology
Larvae in the petioles already in September, making leaf mines in October – November; mines in green islands, also in fallen leaves (Hering, 1957a). The larva hibernates in the soil, un a silken cocon, and pupates in the spring.
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
All Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean Islands (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
larvanotes
Almost fully parthenogenetic (van Nieukerken, Laštůvka & Laštůvka, 2010a).
synonyms
Nepticula, Trifurcula, argyropeza.
parasitoids, predators
references
Anisimovas, Diškus & Stonis (2006a). Bengtsson (2008a), Borkowski (1969a), Buhr (1936a, 1964a, 1965a), Buszko & Baraniak (1989a), Buszko & Beshkov (2004a), Černý (2001a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Delplanque (1998a), Deschka & Wimmer (2000a), Deutsch (2012a), Diškus & Stonis (2012a), Emmet (1971a), Gustafsson (1985a), Gustafsson & van Nieukerken (1990a), Haase (1942a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1923a, 1931b, 1935a, 1957a), Huber (1969a), Johansson ao (1990a), Klimesch (1936a, 1950c, 1958c), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kurz (2016a), Lambinon, Carbonnelle & Claerebout (2015a), Laštůvka & Laštůvka (1997a, 2019a), van Nieukerken (1985a, 1986a, 2006a), van Nieukerken, Laštůvka & Laštůvka (2006a, 2010a), van Nieukerken, Zolotuhin & Mistchenko (2004a), De Prins (1998a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Robbins (1991a), Schmid (29019a), Schütze (1931a), Sefrová (2005a), Skala (1939a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Sønderup (1949a), Szőcs (1977a, 1978a, 1981a), Tomasi (2014a), Wieser & Huemer (1999a), Wullaert (2015a), Zoerner (1969a).