Batrachedra
Batrachedra praeangusta, males
Batrachedra is a genus of butterflies of the family of Batrachedridae.
Features
The moths are scaly smooth. The sensors reach 4/5 of forewing length and have a short basic segment. The labial palps are stretched. The second segment sometimes appears thickened by projecting on the bottom shed. The third segment is slightly shorter than the second and angled upwards. The fore wings are narrow, oblong or oblong lanceolate and have four radial veins. The representatives of the genus Batrachedra are also frequently assigned to the genus Coleophora.
In the male the uncus is long and pointed, sometimes a hook. The Tegumen is large and tapers distally. The Gnathos is great, as long as the uncus and spatulate. The Valven are long and simple, distally rounded or pointed. The saccule is well trained. The Anellus - lobes are distinctive and have a bulbous spatula to form. The Vinculum is narrow. The shape of the aedeagus ranges from short and compact to very long and slender. Cornuti are present or absent.
In females, the apophyses are roughly equal in length. The Apophyses anteriores are often forked at the base. The antrum is funnel-shaped at the base. The ductus bursae is narrow and the inside partially with needles. The corpus bursae is egg-shaped or oval and often has a large, studded with needles, plate-like Signum.
Dissemination
Batrachedra is a species-rich genus with global distribution. Most members are located in the Nearctic, Neotropical and in the in the Oriental region.
Biology
The caterpillars are leaf miners or live in seeds, buds or kittens. A kind - Batrachedra parvulipunctella - lives symbiotically in Schildlauskolonien of Aclerda berlesei or other species.
System
In Europe, the genus is represented by three species.
- Batrachedra parvulipunctella Chrétien, 1915 (Southern Europe, North Africa )
- Batrachedra pinicolella (Zeller, 1839) (Europe, Siberia)
- Batrachedra praeangusta ( Haworth, 1828) ( Europe)