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Stephensia brunnichella

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Stephensia brunnichella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Elachistidae
Genus: Stephensia
Species:
S. brunnichella
Binomial name
Stephensia brunnichella
Synonyms
  • Phalaena brunnichella Linnaeus, 1767
  • Microsetia stephensella Douglas, 1848

Stephensia brunnichella is a moth of the family Elachistidae found in Europe and east into the Palearctic.

Description

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The wingspan is 8–9 mm.[2] The head is dark bronzy. Antennae with white subapical band. Forewings are dark bronzyfuscous; a subbasal fascia, another before middle, an erect tornal spot, and a costal spot before apex pale golden-metallic. Hindwings are dark grey. The larva is green-whitish; dorsal line dark green; head and plate of 2 blackish.[3]

Biology

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The larvae feed on lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta), wild basil (Clinopodium vulgare) and Satureja calamintha mining the leaves of their host plant.[4] The larvae have a greenish body with a black head. They can be found from autumn to April and again in July.

Distribution

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It is widespread throughout Europe. In the north, the distribution extends up to southern Sweden and Finland and in the east it ranges as far as Asia Minor and the Crimea.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Stephensia brunnichella (Linnaeus, 1767)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  2. ^ microlepidoptera.nl
  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. ^ Ellis, W N. "Stephensia brunnichella (Linnaeus, 1767) basil dwarf". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. ^ Stephensia Brunnichella (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) New Species For Lithuania[permanent dead link]
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