Scrobipalpa obsoletella

Scrobipalpa obsoletella, the summer groundling, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, from Iran to Asian Russia (Transbaikal) and Mongolia. It has also been recorded from South Africa and North America, where it is probably an introduced species.[2] The habitat consists of coastal salt marshes and sandy beaches.

Scrobipalpa obsoletella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Gelechiidae
Genus:
Scrobipalpa
Species:
S. obsoletella
Binomial name
Scrobipalpa obsoletella
Synonyms
  • Lita obsoletella Fischer v. Röslerstamm, 1841
  • Gnorimoschema obsoletellum
  • Gnorimoschema miscitatella Clarke, 1932
  • Phthorimaea bipunctella Hartig, 1941
  • Phthorimaea calaritanella Amsel, 1952
  • Scrobipalpa obsoletella hospes Povolný, 1964

The wingspan is 12–14 mm (0.47–0.55 in).[3] Terminal joint of palpi as long as second. Forewings pale greyish-ochreous, sprinkled with dark fuscous and ochreous-whitish ; stigmata dark fuscous, first discal rather beyond plical ; a dark fuscous spot close beyond and slightly beneath second discal, sometimes confluent with it ; an indistinct fine pale angulated fascia at 3/4, sometimes obsolete. Hindwings 1, whitish-grey, terminally darker.The larva is pale yellowish-green ; dorsal line reddish ; sides sometimes rosy-tinged ; dots blackish-grey ; head pale brownish - ochreous ; plate of 2 blackish -brown.[4]

Adults have been recorded on wing from May to August.[5]

The larvae feed on Atriplex glabriuscula, Atriplex halimus, Atriplex litoralis, Atriplex tatarica and Chenopodium species. The larvae bore in the pith of the stem. The frass is ejected through a hole in the stem, located at the base of the leaf or a side branch.[6] The larvae can be found from June to July and again in September. They are light green when young, turning yellowish green later. The head is light brown. The species overwinters in the larval stage.

References
  1. Fauna Europaea
  2. Junnilainen, J. et al. 2010: The gelechiid fauna of the southern Ural Mountains, part II: list of recorded species with taxonomic notes (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Zootaxa, 2367: 1–68. Preview
  3. microlepidoptera.nl
  4. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  5. Hants Moths
  6. bladmineerders.nl
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