Mirificarma mulinella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of Europe, except Finland, the Baltic region and part of the Balkan Peninsula. It has also been recorded from North Africa.
The wingspan is 6–7.5 mm for males and 5.5–7.5 mm for females.Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Terminal joint of palpi as long as second. Forewings pale ochreous, more or less irrorated with dark fuscous, more strongly on margins, and sometimes with whitish; usually a broad cloudy blackish-fuscous streak along fold to before middle, connected with another in disc from 1/3 to apex; above these a pale subcostal streak; stigmata blackish, usually concealed in the dark streaks. Hindwings very pale grey. Larva dull green; dots black; head black; plate of 2 black, with central white line.Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and descriptionHeath, J., ed. 1976 The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 4 Part 2Langmaid, J. R., Palmer, S. M. & Young, M. R. [eds]. 2018 A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland [3rd ed.]Reading, Berkshire. British Entomological and Natural History Societylepiforum.de includes images
Adults are on wing from July to November in Europe, but have also been recorded in February in North Africa.
The larvae feed on the flowers of Ulex europaeus, Cytisus scoparius, Cytisus nigricans, Genista germanica, Lupinus arboreus and Calicotome spinosa.
References
External links ukmoths