Phyllonorycter grewiaephilos
| Phyllonorycter grewiaephilos | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gracillariidae |
| Genus: | Phyllonorycter |
| Species: | P. grewiaephilos |
| Binomial name | |
| Phyllonorycter grewiaephilos de Prins, 2012 | |
Phyllonorycter grewiaephilos is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is found in the Rift Valley and Tsavo National Park in Kenya. The habitat consists of savannah areas at altitudes between 470 and 920 meters.
The length of the forewings is 2.7–2.9 mm. The forewings are elongate and the ground colour is ochreous brown with white markings. The hindwings are dirty white with a slight golden shine. Adults are on wing from early February to mid-April.[1]
The larvae feed on Grewia villosa. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of a tentiform mine, which is either elongate or oval. It is made on the underside of the leaf. The mine is 11–16 mm long and opaque creamy or light brown in colour. The frass is loosely scattered. Pupation takes place without cocoon.
Etymology
The specific name is composed of the host plant genus Grewia and the Greek name philos (meaning friend).