Bryotropha terrella explained

Bryotropha terrella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is the type species of the genus Bryotropha. It is found in Europe.

The wingspan is 14–16 mm.[1] Forewings very variable in ground colour - dark fuscous, shades of brown and grey to cream (coastal form), dark shining bronzy base of costa purplish-tinged. Variously showing the ‘bryotropha’ spots, a sub-terminal fascia and spots around the wing tip or unicolorous. Hindwings grey. Certain identification is by miscroscopic examination of the genitalia. [2] [3] [4]

The moths are on wing from May to August depending on the location.

The larvae feed on various mosses and grasses, including Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Syntrichia ruraliformis, Hypnum jutlandicum, Calliergonella cuspidata and Agrostis capillaris.

External links

Notes and References

  1. , 2005, the genus Bryotropha Heinemann in the western palaearctic (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 148: 77-207. Abstract and full article: http://www.nev.nl/tve/pdf/te0148077.pdf
  2. Heath, J.,ed. 1976 The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 4 Part 2
  3. Langmaid, J. R., Palmer, S. M. & Young, M. R. [eds]. 2018 A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland [3rd ed.]Reading, Berkshire. British Entomological and Natural History Society
  4. https://lepiforum.org/wiki/page/Bryotropha_terrella lepiforum.de includes images