Caryocolum alsinella

Caryocolum alsinella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Gelechiidae
Genus:	Caryocolum
Species:	C. alsinella
Binomial name
Caryocolum alsinella (Zeller, 1868)
Synonyms
Gelechia alsinella Zeller, 1868 Lita alsinella Phthorimaea alsinella Lita albifrontella Heinemann, 1870 Lita tristella Heinemann, 1870 Lita semidecandriella Tutt, 1887 Gelechia semidecandrella Phthorimaea semidecandrella

Caryocolum alsinella is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is found throughout Europe^[1] It is also present in North Africa (including Morocco).

The length of the forewings is 4–5 mm. The forewings are mid-brown, speckled with white, particularly across one-fifth and the middle. There are indistinct black markings. Adults have been recorded on wing from late June to late September.^[2]

The larvae feed on Arenaria montana, Cerastium arvense, Cerastium diffusum, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium semidecandrum, Minuartia verna, Moehringia and Stellaria species. Young larvae mine the leaves of their host plant.^[3] Later, the larvae feed on young shoots, flowers and seed-capsules which are spun together. The larvae have a yellow or light green body and a black head. They occur in spring and pupation takes place up to the end of June.

References

1. Fauna Europaea
2. Huemer, P (1988). "A taxonomic revision of Caryocolum (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 57: 439–571.
3. bladmineerders.nl