Chionodes distinctella
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chionodes distinctella, the eastern groundling, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in almost all of Europe (except Croatia),[1] as well as most of Russia, Kazakhstan,[2] Central Asia and North Africa.[3] The habitat consists of dry, rocky heath and meadows and the verges and rough pastures.
| Eastern groundling | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gelechiidae |
| Genus: | Chionodes |
| Species: | C. distinctella |
| Binomial name | |
| Chionodes distinctella (Zeller, 1839) | |
| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 15–19 mm. The terminal joint of palpi is as long as second. Forewings are brown, usually mixed with dark fuscous; usually indistinct dark fuscous spots on costa near base, at 1/4, and beyond middle, and in disc near base and at 1/4; stigmata black, often partly edged with whitish, first discal beyond plical; an indistinct pale ferruginous-tinged angulated fascia at 3/4, sometimes almost obsolete. Hindwings over 1, light grey.[4][5][6][7]
Adults have been recorded on wing from early June to October in two generations per year in western Europe.[8]
The larvae feed within the roots[9] of Genista and Thymus species, as well as Artemisia campestris.[10]
