Phyllonorycter melanosparta explained

Phyllonorycter melanosparta is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa, Zimbabwe[1] and western Kenya. The habitat consists of secondary woodland where forest flora intermixes with savannah plants.

The length of the forewings is 2.5–2.8 mm. The forewing ground colour is ferruginous-ochreous with blackish fuscous markings. The hindwings are pale grey with a silver shine and a long pale fuscous fringe. Adults are on wing from late December to late January and from late March to July.[2]

The larvae feed on Desmodium repandum, Flemingia grahamiana, Hylodesmum repandum, Rhynchosia caribaea and Vigna species. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of a moderate, oval, semi-transparent, tentiform mine on the upperside of the leaf.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.gracillariidae.net/species_by_code/PHYLMELA Global Taxonomic Database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera)
  2. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/f/zt03594p283.pdf Systematics, revisionary taxonomy, and biodiversity of Afrotropical Lithocolletinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)