Xenolechia aethiops explained

Xenolechia aethiops is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found from Ireland, Great Britain and Denmark to the Iberian Peninsula, Sardinia, Italy and Greece. It is also present in North Africa and Turkey and has also been reported from North America,[1] with records from Alberta, Arizona, California, Maine, Saskatchewan and Texas.[2]

The wingspan is about 18 mm. The forewings are dark fuscous.stigmata black, raised, first discal much beyond plical; a similar spot in disc obliquely before plical, another on fold rather beyond first discal, and a third close beneath second discal. Hindwings considerably over 1, grey.The larva is dull reddish, segmental incisions greenish; dots black; head brown; plate of 2 black, crescentic, bisected[3] [4] [5] [6]

Adults are on wing in May and June.[7]

Notes and References

  1. http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/gelechiidae/gelechiinae/xenolechia/ Xenolechia at funet
  2. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=1875 mothphotographersgroup
  3. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description
  4. Heath, J.,ed. 1976 The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 4 Part 2
  5. 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
  6. https://lepiforum.org/wiki/page/Xenolechia_aethiops lepiforum.de includes images
  7. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=763 UKmoths