Eucosma conterminana (Guenée, 1845) Species
Last modified: Dec. 5, 2023, 10:52 a.m.
A common species in the northern part of Belgium, not so common in the southern part.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Tortricidae > Subfamily: Olethreutinae > Tribus: Eucosmini > Genus: Eucosma > Species: Eucosma conterminana
- Vernacular names
- Sladistelknoopvlekje (NL), Pale Lettuce Bell, Lettuce Tortrix (EN), Salatsamenwickler (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- Fologne E. 1859b. Supplément au catalogue des lépidoptères de Belgique. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 3: 133–142. On page 135.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 15–19 mm. The forewings show a variable shade of brown from almost grey to almost ferruginous. The costa is paler particularly on the distal half where there are prominent strigulae. There is a pale dorsal patch sharply delimited basally but fading posteriorly. The ocellus is pale and sharply dark edged with two or three very narrow black dashes.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
No pictures yet!Caterpillar
Yellowish brown body with a light to dark brown head and dark brown prothoracic plate.
Bionomics
At first, the larva feeds in the flower-heads, later, it burrows into the seed-head. It hibernates in a cocoon spun in the soil or amongst leaf-litter. Pupation in the cocoon.
The adults are active in the evening and later come to light.
Flight periods
The adults have been observed around mid-May towards late September. Most observations during July.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Lactuca viscosa, Lactuca serriola and Lactuca sativa
- Host plant (genera):
- Aster and Sonchus
The larva lives on Lactuca sativa, Lactuca virosa, L. serriola, different forms of cultivated lettuce, Sonchus, Aster tripolium and Asterspp.
Habitat
It inhabits dry open places like rough ground, dry pastures, uncultivated ground and sometimes arable areas.
