Microlechia chretieni is a moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Turati in 1924. It is found on the Canary Islands, Madeira, Crete and Sardinia, as well as in North Africa, France, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Palestine.[1][2] It is also present in Saudi Arabia, southern Iran, western Pakistan, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa.[3]

Microlechia chretieni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gelechiidae
Genus: Microlechia
Species:
M. chretieni
Binomial name
Microlechia chretieni
Turati, 1924
Synonyms
  • Phthorimaea microcasis Meyrick, 1929
  • Hedma microcasis
  • Gelechia micradelpha Walsingham, 1900 (preocc. Lower, 1897)
  • Hedma abzacella Dumont, 1932
  • Teleia hyoscyamella Amsel & Hering, 1931 (preocc. Rebel, 1912)
  • Teleia hyoscyami Amsel, 1935
  • Megalocypha polioptera Janse, 1960

The wingspan is about 9 mm for males and 8 mm for females. The forewings are pale brownish ochreous, with scattered blackish speckling. This appears in a very faintly indicated oblique transverse band, leaving the costa at about one-fourth and crossing the fold between two minute spots of raised blackish scales, the first below the fold, slightly anterior to that on the cell. Another pair of minute raised spots is situated one at the end of the cell, the other a little beyond it, above the outer extremity of the fold. Beyond and above these the costal and terminal margins are studded with groups of blackish scales at the base of the pale fawn-ochreous cilia, through which a slender dark line is traceable around the apex, but not toward the tornus. The hindwings are very pale bluish grey.[4]

The larvae feed on Lycium europaeum, Lycium intricatum, Lycium afrum, Lycium barbarum and Hyoscyamus species. They mine the leaves of their host plant.[5]

The name honours French entomologist Pierre Chrétien.

References

edit
  1. ^ funet.fi
  2. ^ Fauna Europaea
  3. ^ Afro Moths
  4. ^ Description of Gelechia micradelpha   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ bladmineerders.nl