Phyllocnistis citrella
This record describes Phyllocnistis citrella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 4 or 5 mm. The larva mines the leaves (and occasionally the fruit) of Citrus species. Leafmine: Please provide a photograph of the mine and state the host plant species. This adventive species is occasionally found on imported citrus plants. Mines may be found at any time of year on imported citrus. Larvae mine the leaves of citrus species. The mine consists of a long epidermal corridor with a well-marked central frass line. The mine is mostly lower-surface, but sometimes upper-surface. The larva pupates under an overturned part of the leaf margin. Occasional records of this adventive species in Britain on imported citrus plants. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.citrella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/phyllocnistinae/phyllocnistis/phyllocnistis-citrella/#:~:text=Long%20epidermal%20corridor%20with%20a,part%20of%20the%20leaf%20margin.
Wikipedia reference for Phyllocnistis citrella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllocnistis citrella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gracillarioidea
- Family
- Gracillariidae (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phyllocnistinae
- Genus
- Phyllocnistis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This adventive species is occasionally found on imported citrus plants.
Seasonal Activity
Mines may be found at any time of year on imported citrus.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae mine the leaves of citrus species. The mine consists of a long epidermal corridor with a well-marked central frass line. The mine is mostly lower-surface, but sometimes upper-surface. The larva pupates under an overturned part of the leaf margin.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occasional records of this adventive species in Britain on imported citrus plants.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phyllocnistis citrella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Phyllocnistis citrella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Phyllocnistis citrella
What is Phyllocnistis citrella?
Phyllocnistis citrella is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Phyllocnistis citrella found?
Habitat: This adventive species is occasionally found on imported citrus plants.
When is Phyllocnistis citrella active?
Phyllocnistis citrella: seasonal activity - Mines may be found at any time of year on imported citrus..
What is the life cycle of a Phyllocnistis citrella?
Larvae mine the leaves of citrus species. The mine consists of a long epidermal corridor with a well-marked central frass line. The mine is mostly lower-surface, but sometimes upper-surface. The larva pupates under an overturned part of the leaf margin.