Phycitodes binaevella (Hübner, 1813) Species
Last modified: Oct. 30, 2023, 12:05 p.m.
Status and distribution in Belgium insufficiently known, but it is assumed that this is a rare species.
Distribution after 2004 is based on individuals who have been examined for genitalia.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Pyralidae > Subfamily: Phycitinae > Tribus: Phycitini > Genus: Phycitodes > Species: Phycitodes binaevella
- Vernacular names
- Weidemot (NL), Ermine Knot-horn (EN), Distelkopf-Schmalzünsler (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- Fologne E. 1864. Lépidoptères nouveaux pour la faune belge observés par E. Fologne. — Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 8: 273–276. On page 273.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 22–27 mm. The strength and placement of the 3 dots forming the first line is characteristic and is usually sufficient to identify this species, the dorsal dot is the most elongate and the most distal, the middle and costal dots are transverse and often fused, although a check of the genitals is advised, especially in worn specimens.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Bionomics
The larva lives inside the seed-heads of the food plant and hollows out a large cavity therein. It hibernates in a tough brown cocoon on the ground amongst debris.
The adults are active from dusk onwards and later come to light.
Flight periods
The adults fly from June towards September.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Cirsium vulgare and Carduus pycnocephalus
The larva lives on Cirsium vulgare.
