Prays oleae

Prays oleae (olive moth) is a moth of the family Plutellidae found in Europe.

Olive moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Plutellidae
Genus: Prays
Species:
P. oleae
Binomial name
Prays oleae
Bernard, 1788
Synonyms

Description

The wingspan is 11–15 millimetres (3⁄8–5⁄8 in).

The larvae are a pest on olives (Olea europaea). Other recorded food plants include Phillyrea, jasmine and Ligustrum. They mine the leaves of their host plant which initially consists of an upper-surface, short, narrow corridor. Later, in early spring, it may abandon this mine and create an irregular full depth blotch elsewhere on the leaf, or it may continue the corridor into a blotch. Most frass is ejected through a hole in the mine. Part of this frass is captured in spinning at the leaf underside.[1]

Distribution

The moth is found in Southern Europe (the Mediterranean region) and North Africa. It was first found in Great Britain at a garden centre in Surrey in 2009 and has since been found at a light trap in Kent.[2]

  • Leafmines by Prays oleae larvae
  • Larva
  • Young larva
  • Older larva
  • Olive leaves mined by the young larva (2b, 2b*); olive shoot eaten by the mature larva (2b**)

References
  1. Ellis, W N. "Prays oleae (Bernard, 1788) small olive ermel". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. Kimber, Ian. "22.004 BF449c Prays oleae (Bernard, 1788)". UKmoths. Retrieved 28 March 2020.



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