Seq # 250140010

Luquetia lobella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Species

Last modified: Dec. 25, 2024, 2:15 p.m.


A rather rare and local species in Belgium, but probably overlooked in many regions.


Details

Classification
Family: Depressariidae > Subfamily: Depressariinae > Genus: Luquetia > Species: Luquetia lobella
Vernacular names
Tienvlekmot (NL)
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 130 (as G.[elechia] Lobella. W. V.; H.). view page
Status

Native


Distribution


Imago

Forewing ground colour greyish; some dark brown dots before and beyond the middle of the wing, formed by raised scales; 2 such dots on the thorax.

Museum specimens


Specimens in nature


Caterpillar

Light green; head capsule and prothoracic plate green.

No pictures yet!

Cocoon/pupa

A tough cocoon incorporating dead leaves spun together with yellowish silk.

No pictures yet!

Bionomics

The egg is oviposited on a twig or leaf of the larval hostplant.
The first instars are not known, but the later ones hide under a loosely spun silken web on the underside of a leaf. The caterpillar feeds at night, first on the tip of the leaf and afterward, it moves to another leaf to spin again a web. The spinnings are spun mainly transversely across the leaf, so as to bend the leaf margins slightly downwards, leaving an opening in front and behind through which the larva drops quickly to the ground by the slightest disturbance. Mainly it lives close to the ground, and in any case under 1 m, are preferred, as are single-growing bushes of Prunus spinosa. The larval stage extends from early August to the end of September.
The last instar constructs a tough cocoon on the ground in which the pupa hibernates from September till June.
The adults are rarely seen during the daytime. They can be disturbed from hedgerows and come sparsely to light.

No pictures yet!

Flight periods

One generation a year from the beginning of May towards mid-July.


Observed on

Host plant (species):
Prunus spinosa

Monophagous on Prunus spinosa.

No pictures yet!

Habitat

Open places in forests and mixed hedgerows in which Prunus spinosa are thinly present. Blackthorn tickets are avoided.

No pictures yet!