Caryocolum schleichi

Caryocolum schleichi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Gelechiidae
Tribe:	Gnorimoschemini
Genus:	Caryocolum
Species:	C. schleichi
Binomial name
Caryocolum schleichi (Christoph, 1872)
Synonyms
Lita schleichi Christoph, 1872 Caryocolum hackeri Derra, 1985 Caryocolum syriacum Povolny, 1977 Lita dianthella Chretien, 1925 Caryocolum dianthella Lita improvisella Rebel, 1936 Caryocolum improvisella Lita arenariella Benander, 1937 Caryocolum arenariella

Caryocolum schleichi is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is found in central, most of western and parts of eastern Europe,^[1] Morocco, Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan and Mongolia.^[2]

The length of the forewings is 4–7 mm for males and 3.5–6 mm for females. The forewings are dark brown, mottled with greyish white along the costa and dorsal margin. There are several white markings.^[3] Adults have been recorded on wing from late May to early October.

The larvae feed on Dianthus scaber toletanus, Dianthus deltoides, Dianthus arenarius and Dianthus sylvestris. They feed in the stalk of the host plant, which becomes gall-like. The larvae have also been recorded feeding in young shoots. Pupation takes place on the ground between leaf-litter. Larvae can be found in May and June.

Subspecies

• Caryocolum schleichi schleichi
• Caryocolum schleichi dianthella (Chretien, 1925)
• Caryocolum schleichi improvisella (Rebel, 1936)
• Caryocolum schleichi arenariella (Benander, 1937)

References

1. Fauna Europaea
2. Junnilainen, J. et al. 2010: The gelechiid fauna of the southern Ural Mountains, part II: list of recorded species with taxonomic notes (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Zootaxa, 2367: 1–68. Preview
3. Huemer, P (1988). "A taxonomic revision of Caryocolum (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 57: 439–571.