Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
483
Family
TISCHERIIDAE
A small family of very small moths with narrow,
pointed wings. The leaf-mining larvae are very flat-
bodied, with vestigial abdominal prolegs.
Tischeria ekebladella
(Bjerkander) (
483-484
)
A locally common leaf miner on oak (
Quercus
) and
sweet chestnut (
Castanea sativa
). Present throughout
Europe.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
8-11 mm wingspan; fore wings deep ochreous
yellow, speckled with blackish scales apically; hind
wings grey.
Larva:
up to 7 mm long; pale yellow, with
the gut partly visible; head light brown; prothoracic
plate brown.
483
Larva of
Tischeria ekebladella
.
484
LIFE HISTORY
Adults occur in June, depositing eggs on the leaves of
oak and sweet chestnut. The larvae form whitish,
initially shell-shaped mines on the upper side of leaves,
and feed from about September to November; unlike
many leaf miners, a slit is made at the edge of the mine,
through which frass is ejected. When fully fed, each
larva forms a circular chamber in the middle of its mine,
within which the winter is passed and pupation
eventually takes place.
DAMAGE
Although several mines may be present on a leaf, the
tissue is not distorted; also, the lateness of attacks
lessens their importance.
484
Young mines of
Tischeria ekebladella
in leaf of
Castanea
.
485
Tischeria angusticollella
(Duponchel) (
485
)
Minor infestations of this widely distributed but local
species occur on rose (
Rosa
), including cultivated
bushes. The small, light green larvae form characteristic
blotch mines on the upper side of the leaves. Although
causing distortion, and affecting the appearance of
foliage, the mines have no effect on plant growth.
Occupied mines occur from June to July and again in
September and October. The insignificant, dark
purplish-brown adults (8-9 mm wingspan) appear in the
spring, with a second generation emerging in the late
summer.
485
Young mines of
Tischeria angusticollella
in leaf of
Rosa
.
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