Leaf-miner: Full-depth corridor or blotch, often positioned along the leaf margin.
In the first part much, brown-black, fine-grained frass, later parts
of the mine almost free from frass. After hibernation the larva
lives free in an untidy case of silk, covered with remants of sori
(Bladmineerders van Europa).
Mines
the frond at first, then feeding in sporangia in the spring (as
shown). Later spins a case from empty sporangia (British
leafminers).
The
mine is also illustrated in 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).
Larva (early and late instars) has black head, prothoracic plate
and anal plate, which distinguish it from the other fern frond species
P. filicivora (UKMoths). The larva is illustrated in Bladmineerders van Europa.
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
Pupal case has sharp crest when unworn (UKMoths).
In the larval case, often on the hostplant (Pelham-Clinton, 1985a).
Head
and prothoracic plate black, body yellowish (Pelham-Clinton, 1985a)
(Bladmineerders van Europa).
Adult:
The adult is illustrated in UKMoths.
The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Comments:
Ceterach officinarum is treated as Asplenium
ceterach (Rustyback) and Phyllitis
scolopendrium is treated as Asplenium
scolopendrium (Hart's-tongue) by Stace (2010).
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: August-June, most prominent April-May (UKMoths).
Time
of year - adults: June-July (UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Most frequent in Wales and W.
England including Shropshire, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Caernarvon (UKMoths),
Bedfordshire, Breconshire, Cardiganshire, Denbighshire, Dorset, Durham, East Cornwall, East Suffolk, Flintshire, Glamorgan, Isle of Wight, Leicester, Monmouthshire, North Devon, North Somerset, North Wiltshire, Pembrokeshire, Shropshire, South Wiltshire, Stafford, West Cornwall, West Gloucestershire, West Lancashire, West Norfolk, westemorland and Worcestershire (NBN
Atlas).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Austria,
Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
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