Phyllonorycter nigrescentella

Description

Phyllonorycter nigrescentella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from all of Europe except the Balkan Peninsula. The wingspan is 7–9 mm. The larvae feed on Lathyrus vernus, Lotus, Medicago, Trifolium alpestre, Trifolium medium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Trifolium rubens, Vicia dumetorum, Vicia sativa and Vicia sepium. They mine the leaves of their host plant. They create a lower surface tentiform mine that occupies an entire leaflet. The lower epidermis is strongly folded. Fully developed mines are strongly inflated and the leaflet is completely folded over the mine making it practically invisible.