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Scientific name Phyllonorycter messaniella Similar Phyllonorycter harrisella, Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae, Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella, Phyllonorycter maestingella, Phyllonorycter coryli | ||
The European oak leaf-miner or Zeller's midget (Phyllonorycter messaniella) is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is found in Europe south of the line running from Ireland, through Great Britain, Denmark to Ukraine. It is also found in Macaronesia. It is an introduced species in New Zealand and Australia.
The wingspan is 7–9 mm. Adults are on wing from April to November in a number of generations.
The larvae feed on Carpinus betulus, Castanea sativa, Fagus sylvatica, Prunus, Quercus ilex, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Quercus suber, Quercus x turneri and Tilia species. They mine the leaves of their host plant. They create a small, oval, lower-surface tentiform mine which is mostly located between two lateral veins. The lower epidermis has a single sharp fold, which is sometimes forked near the end. The pupa is made in flimsy cocoon, that contains some frass.
