Caryocolum crypticum

Caryocolum crypticum
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Gelechiidae
Genus:	Caryocolum
Species:	C. crypticum
Binomial name
Caryocolum crypticum Huemer, Karsholt & Mutanen, 2014

Caryocolum crypticum is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is found in widely separated localities in northern Italy, Switzerland and Greece. The habitat consists of xerophilous steppes and rocky areas with sparse vegetation from about 500 to 1,300 meters.

The wingspan is 10.5–14 mm. The forewings are blackish brown, mottled with some rusty brown, particularly in the proximal half. There are supplementary black spots in the fold and in the cell. The costal and tornal spot are small, cream and separated. The hindwings are light grey. Adults are on wing from early July to September.

The larvae feed on Silene otites and Silene nutans. They feed in the stem of their host plant. Larvae can be found in early spring.

Etymology

The species name refers to the cryptic morphology of the species and is derived from the Latinized adjective crypticus.^[1]

References

1. DNA barcoding as a screening tool for cryptic diversity: an example from Caryocolum, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae)