Tortilia flavella
Tortilia flavella is a butterfly of the family of Stathmopodidae. The species belongs to a complex habitually very similar species that are widespread across North Africa, the Middle East and India. The type locality of the species is in Biskra ( Algeria).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan 9-11 mm. The head shines on the forehead ( frons ) and white at the apex yellowish white. The neck tufts shining brown. Sensor and Scapus are brown on top. The flagellum, so the sensor scourge without the two basic elements, is pale yellow in basal half and ocher brown in the distal half. Thorax and tegulae shining pale yellow. The forewings are pale yellow and have a brown, triangular or trapezoidal napkin, which extends from the costal vein until the middle of the wing inner edge. The apical third of the forewing is brown and sometimes marked with a yellow line that reaches the outer edge of the conjunctiva often just before the wing inner edge. The fringe scales are pale ocher- yellow to pale. The hind wings shine light gray. The genitalia of the male are similar to those of Tortilia graeca, but they differ in the leaner Valven and the bottle-shaped aedeagus. The genitals of the females are similar to those of Tortilia charadritis, but they are distinguished by the very long rows of short sting on ductus bursae bursae and the smaller sting marks on Corpus.
Dissemination
Tortilia flavella is common in Spain ( Granada), North Africa and the Middle East (Syria and Israel).
Biology
The caterpillars were on flowers and fruits of Acacia (Acacia ) and detected on dried fruit of the pomegranate ( Punica granatum ) from last year. The moths fly from May to September, are likely to form two generations.