Chionodes distinctella

Chionodes distinctella, the eastern groundling, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in almost all of Europe (except Croatia),[1] as well as most of Russia, Kazakhstan,[2] Central Asia and North Africa.[3] The habitat consists of dry, rocky heath and meadows and the verges and rough pastures.

Chionodes distinctella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gelechiidae
Genus: Chionodes
Species:
C. distinctella
Binomial name
Chionodes distinctella
(Zeller, 1839)
Synonyms
  • Gelechia distinctella Zeller, 1839
  • Gelechia indistinctella Rebel 1901
  • Gelechia striolatella Heinemann, 1870
  • Gelechia tristella Teich, 1889
  • Gelechia latiorella Amsel, 1939
  • Gelechia distinctella unicolor Toll, 1947
  • Chionodes deserticola Piskunov, 1979

The wingspan is 15–19 mm. The terminal joint of palpi is as long as second. Forewings are brown, usually mixed with dark fuscous; usually indistinct dark fuscous spots on costa near base, at 1/4, and beyond middle, and in disc near base and at 1/4; stigmata black, often partly edged with whitish, first discal beyond plical; an indistinct pale ferruginous-tinged angulated fascia at 3/4, sometimes almost obsolete. Hindwings over 1, light grey.[4]

Adults have been recorded on wing from early June to October in two generations per year in western Europe.[5]

The larvae feed within the roots[6] of Genista and Thymus species, as well as Artemisia campestris.[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ Fauna Europaea
  2. ^ "Gelechiidae collection of Siberian Zoological Museum". Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  3. ^ Junnilainen, J. et al. 2010: The gelechiid fauna of the southern Ural Mountains, part II: list of recorded species with taxonomic notes (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Zootaxa, 2367: 1–68. Preview
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ "LOT Moths and Butterflies". Archived from the original on 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  6. ^ Hants Moths
  7. ^ "microlepidoptera.nl". Archived from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2013-09-12.