Prays oleae
Prays oleae (olive moth) is a moth of the family Plutellidae found in Europe.
Olive moth | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Plutellidae |
Genus: | Prays |
Species: | P. oleae |
Binomial name | |
Prays oleae Bernard, 1788 | |
Synonyms | |
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Description
The wingspan is 11–15 mm.
The larvae are a pest on olives (Olea europaea) Other recorded food plants include Phillyrea, jasmine and Ligustrum. They mine the leaves of their host plant which initially consists of an upper-surface, short, narrow corridor. Later, in early spring, it may abandon this mine and create an irregular full depth blotch elsewhere on the leaf, or it may continue the corridor into a blotch. Most frass is ejected through a hole in the mine. Part of this frass is captured in spinning at the leaf underside.[1]
Distribution
The moth is found in Southern Europe (the Mediterranean region) and North Africa. It was first found in Great Britain at a garden centre in Surrey in 2009 and has since been found at a light trap in Kent.[2]
Gallery
- Leafmines by Prays oleae larvae
- Larva
- Young larva
- Older larva
- Olive leaves mined by the young larva (2b, 2b*); olive shoot eaten by the mature larva (2b**)
References
- Ellis, W N. "Prays oleae (Bernard, 1788) small olive ermel". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- Kimber, Ian. "22.004 BF449c Prays oleae (Bernard, 1788)". UKmoths. Retrieved 28 March 2020.