Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) Species
Last modified: March 13, 2021, 4:26 p.m.
A pest species, not often recorded in Belgium.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Gelechiidae > Subfamily: Gelechiinae > Tribus: Gnorimoschemini > Genus: Phthorimaea > Species: Phthorimaea operculella
- Vernacular names
- Aardappelmot (NL), Kartoffel-Palpenmotte, Kartoffelmotte (DE)
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
This larva is rosy-white.
Cocoon/pupa
Bionomics
The rosy white larva develops usually in potato tubers, but when it emerges on leaves, it forms a gallery and penetrates the fruits, stems and leaves of the food plant. Larval development only above temperatures higher as 10°C. Hibernation as egg and later it pupates in a very narrow whitish cocoon.
In our country usually on the wing from late June towards October.
Flight periods
Usually around six generations a year in Mediterranean regions, but it appear usually from April till October with the generations overlapping each other.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Solanum tuberosum and Lycopersicon esculentum
The larva develops usually in potato tubers, it forms a gallery and penetrates the fruits, stems and leaves of: Lycium europaeum, Lycopersicon esculentum, Nicotinia tabacum and different species of Solanum.
