Aethes smeathmanniana (Fabricius, 1781) Species
Last modified: Nov. 13, 2023, 3:22 p.m.
A fairly common species throughout Belgium, especially in the northern part.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Tortricidae > Subfamily: Tortricinae > Tribus: Cochylini > Genus: Aethes > Species: Aethes smeathmanniana
- Vernacular names
- Kommabladroller (NL), Yarrow Conch (EN), Heller Schafgarbenwickler (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1844. Énumération des insectes Lépidoptères de la Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société royale des Sciences de Liége 2: 1–35. On page 22.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 12–19 mm. Adults have a white ground colour with ocherous suffusion. Some darker variations having a more yellow appearance. It has two oblique brown cross bands that are incomplete. Both being interrupted well before the costa and having indistinct costal spots to match. The second may be interrupted or fade before mid-wing and may reappear mid-wing.
Much narrower forewings than similar related species.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
The larva feeds September till May in spun flowers or seed-heads and hibernates in the larval feeding place. Pupation in a silken cocoon amongst detritus.
They are active in early evening and later come to light.
Flight periods
The adults have been observed from the beginning of May till the end of August, occasionally later.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Achillea millefolium and Anthemis arvensis
- Host plant (genera):
- Centaurea
The larva feeds on Achillea millefolium, Centaurea spp. or Anthemis arvensis.
Habitat
It inhabits rough open ground, scrub, open woodland, heathland, waste ground.
