Ptocheuusa paupella (Zeller, 1847) Species
Last modified: May 4, 2024, 6:47 p.m.
A local and very rare species in the northern part of Belgium.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Gelechiidae > Subfamily: Anomologinae > Genus: Ptocheuusa > Species: Ptocheuusa paupella
- Vernacular names
- Alantpalpmot (NL), Light Fleabane Neb , Pale Seedhead Moth (EN), Alant-Palpenmotte (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Crombrugghe G. 1903. Note sur quelques Lépidoptères de la faune belge et sur leurs larves. — Revue mensuelle de la Société entomologique namuroise 3: 52–55. On page 55.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 11–12 mm.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Bionomics
The larvae feed on the achenes in the flower heads. Their presence is betrayed by browned florets protruding from the flower head.
The adults can be found by day at rest on flowers of the host plants and later come to light.
Flight periods
The adults usually fly from late May towards mid-September in two generations.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Pulicaria dysenterica
- Host plant (genera):
- Inula
The larva lives in the seedheads of Asteraceae like Inula conyzae, Inula sp. and Pullicaria dysenterica. Also mentioned in literature are Centaurea nigra and Mentha, but this is doubtfull.
No pictures yet!
Habitat
It prefers damp habitats, ditches, edges of marshes and damp grassland.
No pictures yet!
