Sabulopteryx limosella (Duponchel, 1843) Species
Last modified: Nov. 25, 2024, 12:32 p.m.
Discovered new for Belgium in 2009 in some southern limestone areas, where it is local and very rare.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Gracillariidae > Subfamily: Gracillariinae > Tribus: Gracillariini > Genus: Sabulopteryx > Species: Sabulopteryx limosella
- Vernacular names
- Gamandersteltmot (NL), Gamander-Blatttütenfalter (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- Baugnée J.-Y. & Ellis W. N. 2011. Aspilapteryx limosella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), new to the Belgian fauna. — Phegea 39(2): 54–58. On page 54. view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Almost entirely ochreous brown, lighter at costa, with some blackish small dots spread all over.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Mine
Underside mine, whitish to light green at the underside, dark green to purplish above. Because the foodplant has small leaves, the fully developed mine occupies the entire leaf surface and the caterpillar has to move sometimes to other leaves.
See also gracillariidae.net and bladmineerders.be.
Bionomics
Pupation is mostly in the last mine, but sometimes the caterpillar spins some leaves together. The pupa hibernates.
Flight periods
The adults fly in two generations a year mainly from mid-April towards mid-September.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Teucrium chamaedrys, Teucrium montanum and Teucrium scorodonia
- Host plant (genera):
- Teucrium
In Belgium the species has thus far only been found on Teucrium chamaedrys but it can also live on other Teucrium species.
Habitat
Bound to warm limestone areas where the foodplants grow.
