Diagnosis. Together with pseudocistivora, easily distinguished from the other species described here by the absence of white markings
on the forewings and by the very long antennae with many segments. Resembles certain species of Trifurcula and Acalyptris
from which it can most easily be distinguished by the venation and the genitalia. Male Trifurcula can be
separated, without dissection, by the three pairs of scale tufts on the abdomen and the 'velvet' scale patch on the underside of the
hindwing. For differentiation from pseudocistivora, see the diagnosis for that species.
Description. Male. Forewing length 2.3-2.6 mm (n=5). Frontal tuft yellowish to fuscous, often a mixture of darker and lighter scales;
scape white with a few brown scales; antenna very long, comprising 59-62 segments. Thorax and forewing irrorate light brown with yellowish.
No white spots. Cilia greyish white, cilia-line indistinct. Hindwing with a very short yellowish brush.
Female. Forewing length 2.1 -2.6 mm (n=6). Antenna with 36-40 segments.
Venation. Forewing: M fused with R5; Cu sometimes visible; A1 + 2 regularly curved.
Male genitalia. Capsule 365-385 pm long. Vinculum with large ventral plate, anteriorly truncate or slightly excavated; lateral arms expanded
ventrally. Tegumen posteriorly produced into a long narrow point reaching beyond uncus. Uncus an inverted V, with long posterior point.
Gnathos with a moderately long central element. Valvae basally separated, length 185-200 µm, ratio L/W: 2.5-3.1 (x = 2.83 ± 0.22);
long and slender, distally produced into a digitate process; a triangular point halfway along inner margin; a rounded lobe distally.
Juxta present, posteriorly pointed, with scale sculpture on dorsal surface. Aedeagus 260-270 pm, with a ventral and dorsal pair of strongly curved
carinate processes, ventral pair hinged to juxta. Opening of ductus ejaculatorius at one-third from base. Vesica with one strong cornutus
and some inconspicuous sclerotization. Female genitalia. Ovipositor blunt and wide; T8 consisting of two almost square plates with 11 hairs each,
T9 broad, rounded, with two groups of 7 hairs; S7 rounded. Anterior and posterior apophyses of about same length, widely separated. Bursa
small; ductus spermathecae with 3-4 convolutions.
Host plants: With certainty bred from Cistus monspeliensis L. and C. ladanifer L. Peyerimhoff (1 87 1) also records C. salvifolius
L. but, as his type series comprises two species, this record could refer to the next species. It is very likely that the record of mines on
C.laurifolius L. refers also to cistivora, because its blunt oviposter is an indication that it can only lay eggs on Cistus species such as laurifolius
which have leaves with at least one surface hairless. [See also pseudocistivora.]
Distribution. Mediterranean region: with certainty known from southern France, Spain and Portugal.
Flight period. End of August to the end of October, probably univoltine.
This taxonomic description is based on van Nieukerken (1983).