Platyedra subcinerea (Haworth, 1828) Species
Last modified: Feb. 26, 2024, 5:53 p.m.
A very rare species in Belgium, but as with many members of this family, probably underrecorded.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Gelechiidae > Subfamily: Apatetrinae > Tribus: Pexicopiini > Genus: Platyedra > Species: Platyedra subcinerea
- Vernacular names
- Kaasjeskruidmot (NL), Mallow Seed Moth, Mallow Groundling, Mallow Crest (EN), Malven-Palpenmotte (DE)
- Synonyms
- Platyedra vilella (Zeller, 1847)
- First mention in Belgium
- Fologne E. 1862c. Notes sur quelques lépidoptères observés en Belgique. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 6: 170–176. On page 172.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 17–19 mm. Very similar to Pexicopia malvella in size and shape. Platyedra subcinerea has a prominent black spot at the base of the forewing near the dorsum and a pale-ringed black spot at two thirds, most obvious on fresh specimens.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Abdomen yellow white to pinkish; pinacula large and brownish coloured; head and prothoracic plate black.
Bionomics
The larva lives in the seeds and flowers of the food plant, seeds which containing larvae have the sepals sealed, covering the seed completely.
Hibernating as an adult. The adults fly around the host plants at dusk and later come to light.
Flight periods
The adults fly from July/August and after overwintering reappearing in spring till July.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Malva sylvestris and Alcea rosea
The larva lives on Malva sylvestris and occasionally on Alcea rosea.
Habitat
It inhabits gardens in both urban and suburban areas, parkland, fallow fields, herb-rich pastures etc...
