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Bucculatrix thoracella
Bucculatrix thoracella, the lime bent-wing,[4] is species of moth in the family Bucculatricidae, and was first described in 1794 by Carl Peter Thunberg as Tinea thoracella.[2] It is found throughout Europe with exception of Ireland and the Balkan Peninsula,[4] and in Japan, where it occurs on the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu.[5] AppearanceAdult specimens of Bucculatrix thoracella are small, with a wingspan of 6–8 mm, and have a wing pattern of dark brown blotches on a yellow base, with a brown line extending to the wing's edge.[6] Larvae have a pale, greenish yellow body and a pale yellow head.[3] Pupae are a dark, cloudy brown,[1] and are covered by a strongly ribbed white, yellowish or greyish brown cocoon.[4] BehaviourIn continental Europe, Bucculatrix thoracella occurs in two generations per year, whereas it is generally univoltine in most of Britain.[3] It overwinters as a pupa, either on the host plant's trunk or in leaf litter.[7] Adults are on wing in June and sometimes August in Britain,[6] while in continental Europe they are on wing from April to May and from July to August.[8] Eggs are left on the underside of leaves, often at a vein angle.[3] LarvaeLarvae feed mainly on species of lime tree (Tilia spp.) and less commonly on maple species (Acer spp.),[9] but infrequent records of a variety of other host plants exist.[4] During the first larval stadium, they mine their host plant's leaves,[9] resulting in a small, hook-like mine.[9] The mine starts with a small blotch at the angle of leaf veins, then follows in a straight line along the vein, eventually turning away and forming a hook-like shape.[3] When the larva emerges from its mine, it moults in a smooth cocoonet.[9][4] Afterwards, it feeds externally from the leaf's underside, eating out windows in the leaf.[3][9] Host plantsPer Plant Parasites of Europe, known host plants include multiple species of maple (Acer campestre, Acer platanoides and Acer pseudoplatanus); Aesculus hippocastanum; Alnus; Betula; Carpinus betulus; Castanea sativa; Fagus sylvatica; Sorbus; and several species of lime tree (Tilia cordata, Tilia × euchlora, Tilia × europaea, Tilia platyphyllos and Tilia tomentosa).[4] Kobayashi, Hirowatari & Kuroko (2010) additionally report Tilia japonica.[5] In parts of its range, it is found solely or nearly so[a] on Tilia spp.[4] Within Great-Britain, a preference exists for Tilia cordata over Tilia × europaea where both are present.[3] Gallery
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