Paraclemensia cf. cyanella

(Zeller, 1850)

  • Subfamily:
  • Wingspan: 13-14 mm
  • Flight period: Apr - Jun
  • Spread: Uncommon
  • Host plants: Acer campestre and Acer monspessulanum

Information

Paraclemensia cyanella is a small moth of the Incurvariidae family with a wingspan of 13-14 mm.
In Europe we find it France, Austria, and southern European Russia. * In Italy it is absent from the islands. *

The Paraclemensia cyanella has gray fringed front wings with blue metallic shades especially near the apex. The hindquarters are bluish with gray edging, also fringed.
The head is covered with a yellow / orange down, a common feature in this family; the thorax and abdomen are gray with bluish reflections.

Diurnal and univoltine moth. Most of the sources say it is visible in the period between the end of April and June. Habitats are those where there is the presence of hosting plants.

The egg is deposited by means of ovipositor between the membranes of the leaf where the larva leaves a small spot. Already after the first moult, the larva carries out an oval removal. Inserted here it falls to the ground and continues to feed on dead leaves. **

The larvae are oligophages and feed on Acer campestre and Acer monspessulanum. **


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Plant Parasites of Europe leafminers, galls and fungi - https://bladmineerders.nl/

Paraclemensia cyanella
Paraclemensia cyanella
Paraclemensia cyanella
Paraclemensia cyanella
Paraclemensia cyanella