Leucoptera lotella

Description

Leucoptera lotella is a moth in the Lyonetiidae family. It is found from Denmark to Portugal, Italy and Croatia, and from Great Britain to Poland and Hungary. The larvae feed on Securigera varia, Dorycnium pentaphyllum, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Securigera coronata and Lotus maritimus. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of an upper-surface blotch without a preceding gallery. The blotch is nearly circular, but may have broad lobes. The black frass is deposited in indistinct arcs or spirals, glued to the upper epidermis and forming a dark central patch. The larvae may leave a mined leaf and restart elsewhere. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.