Ectoedemia euphorbiella
Encyclopedia
Ectoedemia euphorbiella is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is found in southern Europe
. It is confined to the warmest parts of Europe and has a very localised distribution. It is always found close to the sea.
Adults are very variable in size and colour, probably depending on leaf size.
The larvae feed on Euphorbia acanthothamnos, Euphorbia brittingeri, Euphorbia characias
, Euphorbia dendroides
, Euphorbia fragifera, Euphorbia myrsinites, Euphorbia palustris
, Euphorbia rigida
, Euphorbia serrata
and Euphorbia terracina. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a long, strongly tortuous corridor, widening into an elongate blotch. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae is a family of very small moths with a worldwide distribution. They are characterised by eyecaps over the eyes . These pigmy moths or midget moths, as they are commonly known, include the smallest of all living moths, with a wingspan that can be as little as 3 mm...
family. It is found in southern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It is confined to the warmest parts of Europe and has a very localised distribution. It is always found close to the sea.
Adults are very variable in size and colour, probably depending on leaf size.
The larvae feed on Euphorbia acanthothamnos, Euphorbia brittingeri, Euphorbia characias
Euphorbia characias
Euphorbia characias, the Mediterranean Spurge, is a flowering plant of the Euphorbiaceae family typical of the Mediterranean vegetation....
, Euphorbia dendroides
Euphorbia dendroides
Euphorbia dendroides, also known as Tree Spurge, is a small tree of the Euphorbiaceae family that grows in semi-arid and mediterranean climates....
, Euphorbia fragifera, Euphorbia myrsinites, Euphorbia palustris
Euphorbia palustris
Euphorbia palustris, or also known as the Marsh Euphorbia is an ideal plant for gardening because it has a different color for almost all of the seasons. It is a plant that has a very sticky sap which one should beware of because it is poisonous and might cause an irritation. The Marsh Euphorbia...
, Euphorbia rigida
Euphorbia rigida
Euphorbia rigida, also known as Gopher Spurge or Upright Myrtle Spurge, is a member of the genus Euphorbia. Gopher Spurge is a vascular plant...
, Euphorbia serrata
Euphorbia serrata
Euphorbia serrata is a species of spurge known by the common names serrated spurge and sawtooth spurge. It is native to Europe and North Africa but it is present elsewhere as a weedy introduced species. This is a perennial herb growing anywhere from 20 centimeters to about half a meter in height...
and Euphorbia terracina. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a long, strongly tortuous corridor, widening into an elongate blotch. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.