Simplimorpha promissa
Encyclopedia
Simplimorpha promissa is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is widely distributed in southern Europe
with the northern limit running approximately along the southern slopes of the Alps
and along the Danube
.
The wingspan
is 4-4.5 mm. There are almost continuous generations in the Mediterranean area, but there are two to three generations in places where only the deciduous Cotinus occurs.
The larvae feed on Cotinus coggyria, Pistacia atlantica
, Pistacia khinjuk, Pistacia lentiscus, Pistacia terebinthus, Pistacia vera and Rhus coriaria
. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a full depth corridor that only widens little towards the end. Frass is found in a central line, almost filling the corridor. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae is a family of very small moths with a worldwide distribution. They are characterised by eyecaps over the eyes . These pigmy moths or midget moths, as they are commonly known, include the smallest of all living moths, with a wingspan that can be as little as 3 mm...
family. It is widely distributed in southern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with the northern limit running approximately along the southern slopes of the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
and along the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 4-4.5 mm. There are almost continuous generations in the Mediterranean area, but there are two to three generations in places where only the deciduous Cotinus occurs.
The larvae feed on Cotinus coggyria, Pistacia atlantica
Pistacia atlantica
Pistacia atlantica is a species of pistachio tree known by the English common name Mt. Atlas mastic tree and as the Persian turpentine tree. In Iran it is called baneh. In the Canary Islands is known as Almacigo. Betoum is called in Arabic.- Overview :It is a tree of the genus Pistacia. It is a...
, Pistacia khinjuk, Pistacia lentiscus, Pistacia terebinthus, Pistacia vera and Rhus coriaria
Rhus coriaria
Rhus coriaria, commonly called Elm-Leaved Sumach or Tanner's Sumach is a deciduous shrub to small tree in the Anacardiaceae or Cashew family, native to southern Europe. The dried fruit are used as a spice, particularly in combination with other spices in the mixture called Za'atar.- Uses :Caution...
. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a full depth corridor that only widens little towards the end. Frass is found in a central line, almost filling the corridor. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.