Gelechia rhombella, the apple groundling, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in Europe, the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, southern Siberia, the Russian Far East, 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 Korea and China (Gansu, Qinghai, Jilin).New Faunistic Data for the Family Gelechiidae in the Korean peninsula and NE China (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)
The wingspan is 13–17 mm. Terminal joint of palpi as long as second. Forewings pale ochreous to light fuscous, sprinkled with black; a black spot along costa at base, and another at 2/3; stigmata black, plical minute, second discal usually forming a bent mark; a dark tornal spot; sometimes a faint pale angulated fascia at 3/4; usually blackish terminal spots. Hindwings somewhat over 1, pale grey, darker terminally. Larva dark green, sides reddish-tinged; subdorsal and spiracular lines whitish; head dark brown; plate of 2 black, bisected: between joined leaves of apple.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
The larvae feed on Malus species (including Malus domestica) and Pyrus communis.UKmoths
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