Trifurcula pallidella
Encyclopedia
Trifurcula pallidella is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is the type species of the Trifurcula
genus. It is found from south-eastern Germany
(Bayern), east into
Bohemia
, Moravia
, Slovakia
, adjacent south-eastern Poland
, much of Austria
, both along the Danube
and east and south of the Alps
, extending through the Balkans
to southern Greece
(Peloponnesus) and Crete
, eastwards through Ukraine
and Russia
to the Volga, and one questionable record from Turkey
. To the west it occurs in northern Italy
almost reaching France
, just extending into Switzerland
(Ticino), and throughout Italy
to Sicily
and Corsica
.
The wingspan
is 7.5–9 mm. Adults are on wing from May to early or mid July. There is one generation per year.
The larvae feed on Chamaecytisus albus, Chamaecytisus austriacus, Chamaecytisus hirsutus
, Chamaecytisus ratisbonensis, Chamaecytisus ruthenicus, Cytisus procumbens and Lembotropis nigricans. The larvae make gall
s on their host plant. The egg is deposited on the stem where later the gall forms and is usually difficult to see. The larva first bores into the parenchyma and then feeds in a spiral gallery around the stem, successively moving upwards, also partly boring in the central woody part of the stem. The stem is thickened more or less considerably by the larval activity. The frass
is deposited in the gallery, almost filling it. Pupation takes place outside of the gall.
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 the type species of the Trifurcula
Trifurcula
Trifurcula is a genus of moths of the Nepticulidae family.-Selected species:*Trifurcula aerifica *Trifurcula albiflorella Klimesch, 1978*Trifurcula alypella Klimesch, 1975*Trifurcula andalusica Z. & A...
genus. It is found from south-eastern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(Bayern), east into
Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, adjacent south-eastern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, much of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, both 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....
and east and south 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....
, extending through the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
to southern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(Peloponnesus) and Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, eastwards through Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to the Volga, and one questionable record from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. To the west it occurs in northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
almost reaching France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, just extending into Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(Ticino), and throughout Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
.
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 7.5–9 mm. Adults are on wing from May to early or mid July. There is one generation per year.
The larvae feed on Chamaecytisus albus, Chamaecytisus austriacus, Chamaecytisus hirsutus
Chamaecytisus hirsutus
Chamaecytisus hirsutus, common name: Clustered Broom or Hairy Broom, is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Chamaecytisus of the Fabaceae family.-Description:...
, Chamaecytisus ratisbonensis, Chamaecytisus ruthenicus, Cytisus procumbens and Lembotropis nigricans. The larvae make gall
Gall
Galls or cecidia are outgrowths on the surface of lifeforms caused by invasion by other lifeforms, such as parasites or bacterial infection. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues and can be caused by various parasites, from fungi and bacteria, to insects and mites...
s on their host plant. The egg is deposited on the stem where later the gall forms and is usually difficult to see. The larva first bores into the parenchyma and then feeds in a spiral gallery around the stem, successively moving upwards, also partly boring in the central woody part of the stem. The stem is thickened more or less considerably by the larval activity. The frass
Frass
Frass is the fine powdery material phytophagous insects pass as waste after digesting plant parts. It causes plants to excrete chitinase due to high chitin levels, it is a natural bloom stimulant, and has high nutrient levels. Frass is known to have abundant amoeba, beneficial bacteria, and fungi...
is deposited in the gallery, almost filling it. Pupation takes place outside of the gall.