Trifurcula saturejae
Encyclopedia
Trifurcula hamirella is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is found in the Mediterranean Region from the Iberian Peninsula
to Greece
and in Algeria
.
The larvae feed on Calamintha nepeta
, Calamintha nepeta glandulosa, Calamintha sylvatica and Micromeria
species. The mine
the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a long, slender gallery with a narrow central frass
line. Normally, the mine begins at the underside of a leaf, then descends along the petiole to the rind of the stem. Here a long gallery is made, either ascending or descending. Sometimes the mine is limited to the stem. 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 the Mediterranean Region from the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
.
The larvae feed on Calamintha nepeta
Calamintha nepeta
Lesser Calamint is a member of the Mint family, and is used in Italian cuisine where it is called mentuccia, nipitella or nepitella.-Growth:...
, Calamintha nepeta glandulosa, Calamintha sylvatica and Micromeria
Micromeria
Micromeria is a genus of flowering plant in the Lamiaceae family.It contains the following species:* Micromeria fruticosa* Micromeria nervosa* Micromeria remota* Micromeria thymifolia...
species. The 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, slender gallery with a narrow central 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...
line. Normally, the mine begins at the underside of a leaf, then descends along the petiole to the rind of the stem. Here a long gallery is made, either ascending or descending. Sometimes the mine is limited to the stem. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.