Thiotricha subocellea (Stephens, 1834) Species
Last modified: Nov. 1, 2025, 2:14 p.m.
A very rare and local species in Belgium.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Gelechiidae > Subfamily: Thiotrichinae > Genus: Thiotricha > Species: Thiotricha subocellea
- Vernacular names
- Kustoogje (NL), Eyelet Sober, Marjoram Case-bearer (EN), Oreganoblüten-Palpenmotte (DE)
- Synonyms
- Thiotricha internella (Lienig & Zeller, 1846)
- First mention in Belgium
- Fologne E., Sauveur J., Colbeau J. & Peteau A. 1861. Compte rendu d'une excursion entomologique faite aux environs de Dinant et de Rochefort au mois de juillet 1860. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 5: 12–32. On page 25 (as internella). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 10–12 mm.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Head and prothoracic plate ochreous brown; abdomen pale ochreous; anal plate brown; pinacula small, dark brown (Gregersen & Karsholt 2022).
Case
Bionomics
The larva feeds from a portable case on the seeds of the host plant. Once the larva is fully grown, the case consists of four to five calyces.
Pupation takes place inside the larval case, which is attached to a stem or to debris on the ground.
The adults fly from late afternoon and later come to light.
Flight periods
The adults fly from early June towards mid-August in one generation a year.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Mentha aquatica and Origanum vulgare
- Host plant (genera):
- Thymus
The larva feeds mainly on Origanum vulgare or occasionally on Mentha aquatica and Thymus praecox.
Habitat
It prefers calcareous grounds where the food plant occurs.
