Coptotriche marginea explained

Coptotriche marginea is a moth of the family Tischeriidae, found in most of Europe. It was named by the English botanist, carcinologist and entomologist, Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1828, from a specimen found in England. The larvae mine the leaves of brambles (Rubus) species.

Description

The wingspan is 7–8 mm. Adults are brownish with a slight metallic sheen. Forewings ochreous-yellow; costa anteriorly narrowly, posteriorly broadly suffused with dark purplish-fuscous; termen suffused with dark purplish-fuscous; a dark fuscous tornal dot. Hindwings rather dark grey.^[1] They are on wing from May to June and again in August.^[2]

OvumEggs are laid on the upper surface on a bramble leaf, especially Rubus fruticosus.^[3]

LarvaeThe larvae feed on European dewberry (Rubus caesius), Rubus canescens, Armenian blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Rubus grabowskii, Rubus hypargyrus, raspberry (Rubus idaeus), evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus), Rubus macrophyllus, Rubus nemorosus and stone bramble (Rubus saxatilis). They mine the leaves of their host plant. Occupied mines can be found in June and again from September to March.^{[4] [5]}

PupaPupation takes place within the mine and the pupa is not enclosed in a cocoon.^[4]

Taxonomy

Haworth originally called the moth Tinea marginea in 1828; the genus erected by the 18th-century Swedish botanist, zoologist and taxonomist, Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The moth was later placed in the genus Tischeria and than Emmetia. It is now in the genus Coptotriche. The specific name, marginea, from the Greek margineus - of a margin or an edge, from the dark costa and terminal margin of the forewing.^[6]

External links

• Swedish moths
• British leafminers

Notes and References

1. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description
2. Web site: Smith . Ian F . 10.003 BF125 Coptotriche marginea (Haworth, 1828) . UKmoths . 6 January 2024.
3. Book: Emmet . A M . A. Maitland Emmet . A Field Guide To The Smaller British Lepidoptera . 1988 . British Entomological & Natural History Society . London . 0 9502891-6-7 . 33 . Second.
4. Web site: Ellis . W N . Coptotriche marginea (Haworth, 1828) bordered carl . Plant Parasites of Europe . 6 January 2024.
5. Book: Emmet . A M . A. Maitland Emmet . Heath . John . John Heath (entomologist) . Tischeridae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 1 . 1983 . Harley Books . Colchester . 0-946589-03-8 . 272 & 275.
6. Book: Emmet . A Maitland . A. Maitland Emmet . The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera. Their history and meaning . 1991 . . Colchester . 0-946589-35-6 . 48 & 59.