Mirificarma eburnella

Mirificarma eburnella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in western, central and southern Europe and extends to North Africa, the Middle East and Russia. It is also found in California, United States, where it is presumed to have been introduced.

Mirificarma eburnella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Gelechiidae
Genus:
Mirificarma
Species:
M. eburnella
Binomial name
Mirificarma eburnella
Synonyms
  • Tinea eburnella Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775
  • Tinea formosella Hubner, 1796
  • Mirificarma formosella
  • Carcina flammella Hubner, [1825]
  • Gelechia rufeoformosella Bruand d'Uzelle, 1859

The wingspan is 5-7.5 mm for males and 5.5-7.5 mm for females. The head is cream. The forewings have alternating strongly contrasting, transverse zig-zag patches of cream and yellowish to ochre.[2] Adults have been collected from March to July in Europe and in May and June in North America.

The larvae feed on Medicago sativa, Medicago lupulina, Medicago polymorpha, Trifolium repens, Trifolium hirtum, Vicia americana and Hippocrepis comosa. Larvae have been found in April and May. This species has caused severe damage to clover in California where the larva semiskeletonizes the leaves and lightly spins two leaves together, pupating inside the folded leaves.

References
  1. Fauna Europaea
  2. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)


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