Helcystogramma rufescens

Helcystogramma rufescens is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of Europe.

Grass leaf blades rolled up and discoloured by larva
Larva

Helcystogramma rufescens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gelechiidae
Genus: Helcystogramma
Species:
H. rufescens
Binomial name
Helcystogramma rufescens
(Haworth, 1828)[1]
Synonyms
  • Recurvaria rufescens Haworth, 1828
  • Brachmia terrella Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1843
  • Gelechia diaphanella Zeller, 1846
  • Gelechia isabella Zeller, 1850

The wingspan is 14–17 mm.[2] Forewings with termen straight; light reddish-ochreous, sometimes darker between veins posteriorly ; second, discal stigma sometimes fuscous. Hindwings are whitish-grey, tinged with reddish-ochreous. The larva is white ; subdorsal line and lateral series of oblique marks dark grey; dots black; 3-6 black, 3 and 4 white-edged anteriorly, 6 with brown dorsal blotch ; head and plate of 2 black .[3]


Adults are on wing from June to August.[4]

The larvae feed on various grasses, including Brachypodium sylvaticum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Poa trivialis, Dactylis glomerata, Phalaris arundinacea, Melica nutans, Calamagrostis arundinacea and Calamagrostis epigejos. They spin grass blades and feed inside the spiral spinning, causing whitening of the grass blade tip. They change leaves several times. Larvae can be found from April to July. They are black and white striped.[5]

References
  1. Fauna Europaea
  2. "microlepidoptera.nl". Archived from the original on 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  3. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  4. UKmoths
  5. "ukflymines.co.uk". Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-10-27.


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