Stenolechia gemmella explained

Stenolechia gemmella (black-dotted groundling) is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is known from most of Europe

The wingspan is 10–11 mm. The head is white. Forewings are whitish, somewhat sprinkled with brownish; a spot on costa near base and another at 1/3, an inwardly oblique fascia beyond middle, somewhat interrupted near costa, a spot on base of dorsum, and another at tornus black; some black scales towards apex; vein 4 absent. Hindwings are light grey. The larva is whitish; spots pale grey; head and plate of 2 yellow-brown, latter grey-speckled.[1]

Adults are on wing from July to September, and is known for its habit of resting in crevices in bark.[2]

The larvae feed on Quercus species. They feed in the young shoots.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description
  2. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=755 UKmoths
  3. Web site: Lepidoptera of Belgium . 2011-03-28 . 2012-09-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120917004431/http://webh01.ua.ac.be/vve/Checklists/Lepidoptera/Gelechiidae/Sgemmella.htm . dead .