Ptilocephala plumifera (Ochsenheimer, 1810) Species
Last modified: March 22, 2024, 9:15 a.m.
A very rare species in Belgium, only known from a few locations in the Campine area.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Psychidae > Subfamily: Oiketicinae > Tribus: Oreopsychini > Genus: Ptilocephala > Species: Ptilocephala plumifera
- Vernacular names
- Pluimzakdrager (NL), Fächerfühler-Sackträger (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- Heylaerts F. J. M. 1884. Les Psychides de la Hollande et de la Belgique. — Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 28: xci–xciv. On page xcii (as Oreopsyche Atra L. = Plumifera O.). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
The caterpillar lives onwards from May-June, until after the hibernation in March. The species may overwinter as a fully grown caterpillar.
Case
Length 12–15 mm, width 2–5 mm; tubular, covered with plant fragments, lichens and grains of sand and soil.
Bionomics
The larva lives close to the ground. Its development takes one year.
The adult males live only 1 to 8 days, the wingless females up to one month. Males tend to fly in sunshine and on sunny mornings mainly between 9 am and 2 pm.
Flight periods
One generation a year: from late March towards late April.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Bromus erectus, Potentilla neumanniana and Thymus serpyllum
- Host plant (genera):
- Calluna and Thymus
Oligophagous on low growing woody plants, but also on herbs.
