Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Gracillariidae Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Phyllonorycter | |
Scientific name Phyllonorycter deserticola People also search for Phyllonorycter clemensella | ||
Phyllonorycter deserticola is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is found in restricted, mostly arid habitats over a broad portion of the south-western United States and northern Mexico from southern Utah to Durango and west to northern California.
The length of the forewings is 2.9-3.8 mm. Adults are on wing from late July to early October in two generations, with the second generation overwintering.
The larvae feed on Populus species, including Populus fremontii, Populus deltoides wislizeni, Populus x parryi (Populus freemontii x Populus trichocarpa). They mine the leaves of their host plant.
Etymology
The specific name is derived from the Latin desertum (a waste place) and cola (dwelling in), in reference to the general habitat of this species.
References
Phyllonorycter deserticola Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA