Alabonia geoffrella

Alabonia geoffrella
Alabonia geoffrella, lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Oecophoridae (disputed)
Genus: Alabonia
Species: A. geoffrella
Binomial name
Alabonia geoffrella
(Linnaeus, 1767)

Alabonia geoffrella is a species of gelechioid moth. Here, it is placed within the subfamily Oecophorinae of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae). Alternatively it has been placed in the Elachistidae or Depressariinae together with its presumed closest relatives.[1]

Description

Alabonia geoffrella, dorsal view

The adults fly from May to June depending on the location. The wingspan of this diurnal moth is 17–21 mm, and it is quite colorful, with a light to dark rusty-red background, bold white markings and a more delicate metallic-blue pattern. The labial palps are conspicuously enlarged.[2]

The caterpillars feed on rotting wood; mostly living under tree bark, they have also been found inside dead branches of Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) and blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus section Rubus).[3]

Distribution and habitat

Alabonia geoffrella is found in Europe, where it is not rare in many woodlands and marshlands.

Footnotes

  1. Pitkin & Jenkins (2004), and see references in Savela (2001)
  2. Kimber [2010]
  3. Grabe (1942), Kimber [2010]

References

Media related to Alabonia geoffrella at Wikimedia Commons