Seq # 265080010

Neofaculta ericetella (Geyer, 1832) Species

Last modified: Feb. 26, 2024, 5:10 p.m.


A common species everywhere in Belgium where heather grows, especially in the Kempen area and the southern part of the country.


Details

Classification
Family: Gelechiidae > Subfamily: Anacampsinae > Tribus: Chelariini > Genus: Neofaculta > Species: Neofaculta ericetella
Vernacular names
Heidepalpmot (NL), Heather Grey, Heather Groundling, Heather Sober (EN), Heidekraut-Palpenmotte (DE)
Synonyms
Neofaculta gallinella (Treitschke, 1833)
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 131.
Status

Native


Distribution


Imago

Wingspan 13–18 mm.
It resembles Neofaculta infernella, but N. ericetella is smaller in size and has a narrower and more greyish forewing, often with whitish admixture. However used specimens should be checked for genitalia.

Museum specimens

No pictures yet!

Specimens in nature


Genitalia


Caterpillar

Head ochreous to pale brown; prothoracic plate dull greyish to whitish green, pair of characteristic dark reddih spots on thoracic segment 2 and 3; abdomen dull greenish with pale dorsal and subdorsal stripes widening posteriorly; pinacula minute and dark grey (Gregersen & Karsholt 2022).

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Bionomics

The larva lives at first on the flowers, later in spinnings on the shoots or twigs, forming a shelter where it rests when not feeding. The larva hibernates and continues feeding in spring and later descends to the ground for pupation.
The adults can be disturbed from the foodplant during the day and are active from dusk onwards and later come to light.

No pictures yet!

Flight periods

The adults have been seen from early April towards early September.


Observed on

Host plant (genera):
Erica and Calluna

The larva lives on Calluna vulgaris,, Erica cinerea and Erica tetralix.

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Habitat

It inhabits sandy soils where the food plant occurs, but also on raised bogs and cool, damp forest areas.

No pictures yet!