Chionodes distinctella
Chionodes distinctella, the eastern groundling, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in almost all of Europe (except Croatia),[1] as well as most of Russia, Kazakhstan,[2] Central Asia and North Africa.[3] The habitat consists of dry, rocky heath and meadows and the verges and rough pastures.
| Chionodes distinctella | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota | 
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Arthropoda | 
| Class: | Insecta | 
| Order: | Lepidoptera | 
| Family: | Gelechiidae | 
| Genus: | Chionodes | 
| Species: | C. distinctella  | 
| Binomial name | |
| Chionodes distinctella (Zeller, 1839)  | |
| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 15–19 mm. The terminal joint of palpi is as long as second. Forewings are brown, usually mixed with dark fuscous; usually indistinct dark fuscous spots on costa near base, at 1/4, and beyond middle, and in disc near base and at 1/4; stigmata black, often partly edged with whitish, first discal beyond plical; an indistinct pale ferruginous-tinged angulated fascia at 3/4, sometimes almost obsolete. Hindwings over 1, light grey.[4]
Adults have been recorded on wing from early June to October in two generations per year in western Europe.[5]
The larvae feed within the roots[6] of Genista and Thymus species, as well as Artemisia campestris.[7]
References
    
- Fauna Europaea
 - "Gelechiidae collection of Siberian Zoological Museum". Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
 - Junnilainen, J. 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
 -  Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf 
 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description - "LOT Moths and Butterflies". Archived from the original on 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
 - Hants Moths
 - "microlepidoptera.nl". Archived from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
 
