Seq # 245150010

Oecophora bractella (Linnaeus, 1758) Species

Last modified: Feb. 1, 2024, 9:50 a.m.


A fairly common and scattered species throughout Belgium.


Details

Classification
Family: Oecophoridae > Subfamily: Oecophorinae > Genus: Oecophora > Species: Oecophora bractella
Vernacular names
Molmboorder (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 122. view page
Status

Native


Distribution


Imago

Museum specimens


Specimens in nature


Caterpillar

Dark grey, head capsule pale brown, prothoracic and last abdominal segment darker brown.

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Cocoon/pupa

Pupation in a silken cocoon in which frass is used.

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Bionomics

The caterpillar constructs a loose, silken gallery under dead bark of various trees, preferably deciduous wood.
Pupation takes place between April and June in a silken cocoon covered with frass in the larval feeding place.
The adults are active in early morning sunshine, they hide during the rest of the day but come occasionally to light.

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Flight periods

One long generation a year from May till the end of July.


Observed on

Substrates:
Fungi, Dead wood and Lichens

The caterpillar feeds on decaying wood, lichens and fungi under the dead bark of various trees, like Acer, Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, Fraxinus, Larix, Picea, Pinus, Prunus, Quercus, Salix, Tsuga, etc. especially when the tree is infected with Armilleriella mellia. It has a preference for Carpinus betulus and Fagus sylvatica.

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Habitat

Open places with a lot of bushes, clearings and roads in forests, parks. The species seems to have a preference for deciduous forests in xerothermic habitats.

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