Seed-feeder
and case-bearer: The larva can be found on Juncus maritimus seedheads, both
standing and prone on the ground. The larval case, made from a hollowed
seed of the foodplant, is well camouflaged and easily overlooked.
Records should not be made purely on the basis of feeding holes,
as C. glaucicolella,
another species often abundant on saltings, makes similar holes
in Juncus maritimus. Care is needed in the identification
of the foodplant, especially when dealing with dead seedheads, as
the similar Juncus gerardii supports larvae of C.
adjunctella feeding on seeds in the same manner (UKMoths).
The
case is illustrated in British
leafminers and UKMoths.
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).
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
Pupation is on a plant stem in May and June (UKMoths).
Adult:
The adult is not illustrated in UKMoths (check for update). The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: September to May (UKMoths
and British
leafminers).
Time
of year - adults: The adult flies from late June to early August
at night and at sunrise. It comes to light, sometimes at a distance
from the coast (UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: This species is widespread on
English and Welsh coastal saltings where Sea rush (Juncus maritimus)
grows. It has also been recorded on the Firth of Forth (UKMoths);
Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Dorset, East Cornwall, East Suffolk,
Flintshire, Glamorgan, Haddington, Isle of Wight, Kirkudbrightshire, North Somerset, Pembrokeshire, West Cornwall,
and West Norfolk (NBN
Atlas).
Also
recorded in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (Fauna Europaea and National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Albania,
Bulgaria, Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, Danish mainland, French mainland,
Greek mainland, Italian mainland, North Aegean Is., Portuguese mainland,
Sardinia, Sicily, Spanish mainland, Sweden and The Netherlands.
Also recorded in Near East and North Africa (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: Currently unknown.
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