Xenolechia aethiops

Xenolechia aethiops is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is found in Europe from Ireland, Great Britain and Denmark to the Iberian Peninsula, Sardinia, Italy and Greece. It is also present in North Africa and Turkey and has also been reported from North America, with records from Alberta, Arizona, California, Maine, Saskatchewan and Texas.

Description

Image:Xenolechia aethiops a sprig of heath eaten by [larva.JPG|thumb|left|200px|A sprig of heath eaten by larva]
[Image:Xenolechia aethiops larva.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Larva]
The wingspan is about 18 mm. The forewings are dark fuscous.stigmata black, raised, first discal much beyond plical; a similar spot in disc obliquely before plical, another on fold rather beyond first discal, and a third close beneath second discal. Hindwings considerably over 1, grey.
The larva is dull reddish, segmental incisions greenish; dots black; head brown; plate of 2 black, crescentic, bisected
Adults are on wing in May and June.