Caloptilia elongella
| Pale red slender | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gracillariidae |
| Genus: | Caloptilia |
| Species: | C. elongella
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caloptilia elongella | |
| Synonyms | |
|
List
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Caloptilia elongella (commonly known as the pale red slender) is a moth of the family Gracillariidae, first described by the Swedish biologist and physician Carl Linnaeus, from a specimen moth found in Småland, Sweden in 1761.[2][3] It is known from Asia, Europe and North America.
Description
The wingspan is 14–16 millimetres (0.55–0.63 in). The forewings are deep reddish-ochreous, sometimes mixed or suffused with pale yellowish; margins sometimes with darker dots; often an indistinct pale yellowish triangular costal blotch before middle. Hindwings are rather dark grey. The larva is whitish or pale greenish; dorsal line dark grey; head pale brownish or greenish.[4] It is very similar to the red birch slender (Caloptilia betulicola) and both species are quite variable. Identification requires microscopic examination of the genitalia.[2][5]
There are two generations per year, with adults on wing in June and again during September, after which they hibernate and reappear in spring.[6]
Eggs are laid on the upper side of a leaf of alder, usually over a vein.[2]
- Larva
Larvae are found from May to July and feed at first in a mine. It later feeds in a rolled or folded leaf on common alder (Alnus glutinosa), grey alder (Alnus incana), Italian alder (Alnus cordata) and Alnus minor. Larvae initially feed in an irregular gallery in the upper epidermis and has a central line of pale-brown frass which is attached to the cuticle. The larva then forms a silvery epidermal upper-surface blotch with light brown frass over a vein, where it feeds on the sap. When it later begins to feed on the tissue, the leaf rolls into a tube, the frass is black and packed in one end. On leaving the tube, the larva first folds a leaf downwards and is fastened with silk.[2][7]
- Pupa
Pupation in a transparent, yellow-shining cocoon, generally at the leaf margin.[2]
Distribution
It is known from all of Europe east to eastern Russia. It is also found in North America from British Columbia, south to California and east in the north to New Hampshire and New York.
Etymology
Caloptilia was raised by the German entomologist, Jacob Hübner in 1825 and the name is from Greek and means (kalos), beautiful and (ptilon) a feather, referring to the wing and the attractive appearance of the moth. The specific name elongella from the Latin elongus, very long, from the relatively long forewing; not from the long roll of the larva, since the life cycle of the moth was unknown in 1861.[8]
References
- ^ "Caloptilia elongella (Linnaeus, 1761)". 2.5. Fauna Europaea. July 23, 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Heath, John; Emmet, A Maitland, eds. (1985). Gracillariidae. In Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 2. Colchester: Harley Books. p. 258. ISBN 0-946589-19-4.
- ^ "Pale Red Slender". Norfolk Moths. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
- ^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
- ^ Kuznetsov V.I., 1990 Gracillariidae; in G.S. Medvedev (ed.): Keys to the insects of the European part of the USSR, Vol.IV: Lepidoptera, part 2 (English translation), Oxonian Press Pvt.Ltd., New Dehli, 1987
- ^ Kimber, Ian. "15.004 BF282 Caloptilia elongella (Linnaeus, 1761)". UKmoths. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ Ellis, W N. "Caloptilia elongella (Linnaeus, 1761) pale red slender". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ A. Maitland, Emmet (1991). The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera. Their History and Meaning. Colchester: Harley Books. p. 62. ISBN 0-946589-35-6.