Agonopterix heracliana (Linnaeus, 1758) Species
Last modified: March 25, 2024, 8:09 a.m.
A common species throughout Belgium, recorded from all provinces.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Depressariidae > Subfamily: Depressariinae > Genus: Agonopterix > Species: Agonopterix heracliana
- Vernacular names
- Gewone kaartmot (NL)
- Synonyms
- Agonopterix applana (Fabricius, 1777) and Agonopterix cicutella (Hübner, 1796)
- 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 24 (as Haemilis heracliella L.). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Can be separated from Agonopteryx ciliella by its smaller size and the presence of only 1 faint grey line in the hindwing cilia.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Genitalia
Caterpillar
Yellowish or greenish with darker green dorsal and dorsolateral lines; head capsule green with a black spot on each side laterally; prothoracic plate greenish with some black dots; last abdominal segment yellowish green with some black dots; pinacula black.
Bionomics
The caterpillar spins some leaves of the foodplant together or constructs a tube by rolling a leaflet downwards. It construct several such tubes during it development. Sometimes the caterpillar also feeds on the flowers; May–early August.
Pupation in the soil or amongst leaf litter; June–September.
The species hibernates in the adult stage. The adults hide during daytime, they become active at night and come to light and especially to sugar.
Flight periods
One long generation a year: from July onwards and after hibernation till May.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Heracleum sphondylium, Angelica sylvestris and Anthriscus sylvestris
- Host plant (genera):
- Conium, Oenanthe, Silaum, Chaerophyllum and Conopodium
The larva lives on a great variety of Apiaceae, especially on: Anthriscus sylvestris, Chaerophyllum temulum and Heracleum sphondylium, but it has also been recorded from: Aegododium podagraria, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Daucus sylvestris, Meum athamanticum, Myrrhis odorata, Oenanthe sp., Pastinaca sativa, Silaum silaus, Sison amomum, Smyrnium alusatrum, Torilis, Ligusticum scoticum, etc.
