Apterona helicoidella (Vallot, 1827) Species
Last modified: March 22, 2024, 8:38 a.m.
A very rare species in Belgium. Found sometimes in big numbers in suitable habitats.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Psychidae > Subfamily: Oiketicinae > Tribus: Apteronini > Genus: Apterona > Species: Apterona helicoidella
- Vernacular names
- Slakkenhuiszakdrager (NL), chneckenhaus-Sackträger (DE)
- Synonyms
- Apterona crenulella (Bruand, 1853)
- First mention in Belgium
- Lhomme L. 1923–1935. Catalogue des Lépidoptères de France et de Belgique. Volume I Macrolépidoptères. — — : 1–800. On page 636.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
No pictures yet!Caterpillar
Strongly polyphagous: greenish or reddish grey.
Case
A circular case of about 4 mm diameter in the form of a helical snail-shell, covered with fine grains of sand and soil.
Mine
Mines can be recognised by the feeding holes being not neatly circular and misses the fringe of silken stalks around the margin because the case is not attached to the leaf with spinning, unlike Coleophoridae do.
See also bladmineerders.be
Bionomics
The larvae can be found from late September till June. They hibernate in their case.
In Belgium only the pharthenogenetic form occurs and the species is only present as females. Females are apterous, males are active during the night and sometimes come to light.
Flight periods
One generation a year: from late June to early August.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Potentilla neumanniana, Erodium cicutarium, Helianthemum nummularium, Teucrium montanum, Teucrium chamaedrys, Artemisia vulgaris, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia campestris, Cirsium arvense and Tanacetum vulgare
- Host plant (genera):
- Betula
Polyphagous on herbaceous plants.
Habitat
Xerothermic habitats, heathland, rocky slopes.
