Trifurcula cryptella

Trifurcula cryptella is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. It is widespread throughout Europe

Trifurcula cryptella
Genitalia preparation Leafmine
Trifurcula cryptella Serbia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nepticulidae
Genus:	Trifurcula
Species:	T. cryptella
Binomial name
Trifurcula cryptella (Stainton, 1856)
Synonyms
Nepticula cryptella Stainton, 1856 Levarchama cryptella Nepticula trifolii Sorhagen, 1885

The wingspan is 4-4.6 mm. The thick erect hairs on the head vertex are ferruginous-yellowish, sometimes mixed with fuscous. The collar is bright yellow. Antennal eyecaps are whitish. The forewings are pale greyish, coarsely irrorated with dark fuscous outer part of cilia whitish-grey. The hindwings are grey.^[1][2] External image Requires microscopic examination of the genitalia for identification.^[3][4]

The larvae feed on Anthyllis montana, Coronilla coronata, Coronilla emerus, Coronilla emerus emeroides, Coronilla varia, Hippocrepis comosa, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus hispidus, Lotus pedunculatus and Lotus uliginosus. They mine the leaves of their host plant.