Mesophleps silacella, the straw crest, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in Europe, Turkey and Algeria.

Mesophleps silacella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gelechiidae
Genus: Mesophleps
Species:
M. silacella
Binomial name
Mesophleps silacella
(Hübner, 1796)
Synonyms
  • Tinea silacella Hübner, 1796
  • Tinea pyropella Hübner, 1793 (preocc. [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
  • Recurvaria silacea Haworth, 1828
  • Mesophleps pudicellus var. apicellus Caradja, 1920
  • Mesophleps silacellus calaritanus Amsel, 1939
  • Tinea luteella Hübner, 1796

The wingspan is 9–17 mm. Adults have been recorded on the wing in June.

The larvae feed on Helianthemum species (including Helianthemum nummularium and Helianthemum tuberosum) and Fumana procumbens.[1] They have been recorded in April, May, June and August.

References

edit
  1. ^ Li, H.-h. & K. Sattler, 2012: A taxonomic revision of the genus Mesophleps Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Zootaxa 3373: 1-82.