Phyllonorycter helianthemella
# Phyllonorycter helianthemella

Phyllonorycter helianthemella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found from Germany to the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and Greece and also on the Canary Islands (La Palma and Tenerife).

## Ecology

The larvae feed on Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus salvifolius, and Helianthemum canariense. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine starts as an epidermal lower-surface corridor that closely follows a thick vein. It continues into a tentifom mine with strong folds, that may occupy almost an entire leaf. The frass is deposited in a loose accumulation. Pupation occurs outside of the mine, in a cocoon in a leaf fold.

