Bucculatrix cristatella is a species of moth of the family Bucculatricidae. It is found in most of Europe (except the Iberian Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula). It was described in 1839 by Philipp Christoph Zeller.
The wingspan is about 7 mm. The head is ochreous-yellowish to light yellowish -fuscous. Forewings are shining ochreous-grey. Hindwings grey. The larva is pale greenish; dorsal and subdorsal lines darker; dots whitish and the head pale brown. Plate of 2 yellowish, brown-dotted.Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and descriptionZagulajev, A.K., 1990 Bucculatricidae; in G.S. Medvedev (ed.): Keys to the insects of the europaean part of the USSR, Vol.IV: Lepidoptera, part 2 (english translation), Oxonian Press Pvt.Ltd., New Dehli, 1987
Adults are on wing from May to June and again from July to August. There are two generations per year.
The larvae feed on Achillea millefolium, Anthemis tinctoria, Chrysanthemum species and Leucanthemopsis alpina. They mine the leaves of their host plant. Last instar larvae feed freely on the leaf.
References
External links
Plant Parasites of Europe UKmoths Images representing Bucculatrix cristatella at Consortium for the Barcode of Life