Pselnophorus heterodactyla (Müller, 1764) Species
Last modified: Feb. 15, 2022, 11:29 a.m.
First recorded in Belgium in 2003 from a specimen reared from a caterpillar which was pupating on a pine tree trunk at Chantemelle (LX). Another specimen was found in the beginning of the 21st century in NA. An extreme rare and local species in our country.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Pterophoridae > Subfamily: Pterophorinae > Genus: Pselnophorus > Species: Pselnophorus heterodactyla
- Vernacular names
- Bruine vedermot (NL), Hasenlattich-Federmotte (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Prins W. 2003. Four new species for the Belgian fauna (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae, Coleophoridae, Pterophoridae). — Phegea 31(3): 87–90. On page 88–89. view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan: 18–22 mm.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
The caterpillar lives on the under side of a leaf. From August it stops feeding and conceales itself in a withered leaf in order to hibernate. It resumes feeding in springtime. Its presence is then revealed by the drooping tip of a leaf because the larva bites through the mid riff of the leaf.
Pupation along the stem.
Flight periods
One generation a year: from June to mid August.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Mycelis muralis, Prenanthes purpurea and Lapsana communis
The main foodplant is Mycelis puralis but the species lives also on other Asteraceae, like: Prenanthes purpurea or Lapsana communis.
Habitat
Forest with a herbaceous ground cover.
