Blastodacna atra (Haworth, 1828) Species
Last modified: Dec. 2, 2024, 5:32 p.m.
A very rare and local species in Belgium. Easily confused with Blastodacna hellerella.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Elachistidae > Subfamily: Parametriotinae > Genus: Blastodacna > Species: Blastodacna atra
- Vernacular names
- Appelkwastmot (NL)
- Synonyms
- Blastodacna putripennella (Zeller, 1839) and Blastodacna putridella sensu De Crombrugghe, 1906
- First mention in Belgium
- De Crombrugghe G. 1906a. Catalogue raisonné des Microlépidoptères de Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société entomologique de Belgique XIII: 1–172; XIV: 1–155. On page 61 (as Blastodacna Hellerella Dup. var. Atra). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
The wingspan is 11–13 mm.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
No pictures yet!Bionomics
The larva mines a twig of the tree and feeds continuously during winter. Its presence is revealed by a small heap of frass ejected from the entrance hole. The larva causes the shoots to die and when there are many, the species can be a serious pest in apple orchards.
Before pupation inside the twig, the full-grown larva moves to the surface of the twig, near a terminal or lateral bud, and eats out a circular emergence hole in the bark.
The species hibernates in the larval stage.
The adults are active at dusk and later come to light.
Flight periods
One generation a year from the end of May till early September.
Habitat
Gardens, orchads.
