Incurvaria praelatella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Species
Last modified: March 15, 2024, 11:02 a.m.
A very rare species in Belgium.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Incurvariidae > Genus: Incurvaria > Species: Incurvaria praelatella
- Vernacular names
- Aardbeiwitvlekmot (NL), Strawberry Leaf-cutter (EN)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Fré Ch. 1858. Catalogue des Microlépidoptères de la Belgique. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 2: 45–162. On page 110 (as T.[inea] Praelatella. W. V.). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Genitalia
Bionomics
The young larva makes a circular blotch mine in the leaves of the food plant. Later on it constructs a flat oval case cut from the mine which is subsequently enlarged to a fiddle-shaped case with silk and plant hairs. Caterpillars living on Fragaria cut off a segment from the tip of the leaf and attach it to the underside of the same leaf, feeding on it as they wither. Caterpillars living on Geum feed on the underside of the older leaves from the ground.
Pupation takes place in the case.
The moths are active during the day, they prefer bright sunshine.
Flight periods
The adults fly from early May till mid-July.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Fragaria vesca and Geum rivale
The young larva lives on: Fragaria vesca or Geum rivale.
