Seed/Shoot
feeder:
Larva feeds in the flower heads of composites and other plants drawing
together the petals to form a shelter and eating out the immature
seeds; also on young shoots drawing together the terminal leaves
and eating out the heart (Bradley
et al., 1973).
Larva: The larvae of moths have a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding), six thoracic legs and abdominal legs (see examples).
Head and prothoracic plate light brown or yellowish brown, head
with a black lateral marking; abdomen light yellow, sometimes pale
greenish grey dorsally, translucent; pinacula small, black; peritreme
of spiracles black; anal plate yelowish brown, marked with black;
anal comb black; thoracic legs yellowish; terminal segments brownish
(Bradley et al., 1973).
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
Blackish brown (Bradley et
al., 1973).
Adult:
The adult is illustrated in UKMoths by Helen Bartock. The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Asteraceae |
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Chrysanthemum |
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Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Hieracium |
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Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Hypochaeris |
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|
Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Leontodon |
|
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Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Senecio |
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Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Taraxacum |
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|
Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Caryophyllaceae |
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Silene |
uniflora |
Sea
Campion |
 |
Bradley
et al., 1973, as Silene maritima |
Cistaceae |
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Helianthemum |
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|
Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Crassulaceae |
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Umbilicus |
rupestris |
Navelwort |
 |
Pitkin & Plant |
Lamiaceae |
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Teucrium |
|
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|
Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Rosaceae |
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Dryas |
octopetala |
Mountain
Avens |
 |
Bradley
et al., 1973 |
Hosts
elsewhere: Currently unknown.
Time
of year - larvae: June (Bradley
et al., 1973).
Time
of year - adults: July (Bradley
et al., 1973).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Britain including Anglesey, Caernarvonshire,
Cambridgeshire, Cardiganshire, Denbighshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, Derbyshire, Dorset, Durham, East Cornwall, East Norfolk,
East Suffolk, Flintshire, Glamorgan, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kincardineshire, Kirkudbrightshire, Linlithgow, Merionethshire, Montgomeryshire, North Aberdeenshire,
Outer Hebrides, Pembrokeshire, South Devon, South Lancashire, South-east Yorkshire, South-west Yokeshire, Stafford, West Cornwall, West Gloucestershire, West Norfolk, West Suffolk, Westmorland and Wigtownshire (NBN
Atlas).
Also
recorded in the Republic of Ireland (Fauna Europaea and National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in west Europe including French mainland,
Italian mainland, Portuguese mainland and Spanish mainland (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
Ichneumonoidea - Links to species no longer available |
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Theroscopus esenbeckii (Gravenhorst, 1815) |
Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae |
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