Phyllonorycter cerris (Gregor), Taxonomy, Biology and Distribution (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Species independence of Phyllonorycter cerris (Gregor, 1952) is evidenced by differences in coloration, results of molecular analysis, and trophic specialization. The differences between P. cerris and P. quercifoliella (Zeller, 1839) lie in the basic appearance of the forewings, and in the location and shape of some strigulae. The genetic distance (COI) between Phyllonorycter cerris and P. quercifoliella is 2.5%. The larva of Phyllonorycter cerris mines only Quercus cerris L. in central Europe, P. quercifoliella mines oligophagously Quercus spp. of the section Robur Reich. Phyllonorycter cerris is redescribed, data on biology, population densities, and distribution are added. Occurrence in Czechia is analysed in detail, the first precise faunistic data from Bohemia are given.