Parafomoria pseudocistivora
Encyclopedia
Parafomoria pseudocistivora is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is probably found in the whole Mediterranean Region.
The length of the forewings is 2.1-2.6 mm for males and 2.1-2.6 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to October. There is probably one generation per year.
The larvae feed on Cistus albidus, Cistus crispus, Cistus incanus creticus and Cistus salviifolius
. They mine
the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a long, often contorted, narrow corridor that hardly widens towards the end. The frass
is deposited in an interrupted central line that never occupies over one third of the corridor width. 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 probably found in the whole Mediterranean Region.
The length of the forewings is 2.1-2.6 mm for males and 2.1-2.6 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to October. There is probably one generation per year.
The larvae feed on Cistus albidus, Cistus crispus, Cistus incanus creticus and Cistus salviifolius
Cistus salviifolius
Cistus salviifolius, common name Sage-leaved Rock Rose or Salvia Cistus, is a perennial ligneous plant of Cistaceae family.-Etymology:...
. They mine
Leaf miner
Leaf miner is a term used to describe the larvae of many different species of insect which live in and eat the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths , sawflies and flies , though some beetles and wasps also exhibit this behavior.Like Woodboring beetles, leaf...
the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a long, often contorted, narrow corridor that hardly widens towards the end. The frass
Frass
Frass is the fine powdery material phytophagous insects pass as waste after digesting plant parts. It causes plants to excrete chitinase due to high chitin levels, it is a natural bloom stimulant, and has high nutrient levels. Frass is known to have abundant amoeba, beneficial bacteria, and fungi...
is deposited in an interrupted central line that never occupies over one third of the corridor width. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.