Last modified: May 6, 2024, 2:18 p.m.
A very rare and local species in the northern part of Belgium. Mostly recorded at the coast and at the estuary of the Schelde.
Native
The caterpillar is pale reddish-yellow with a black or brown head and brown prothoracic plate.
The larva lives in the inflorescence among the spun flower heads, feeding on the achenes, often betraying its presence with frass on the flower head. It overwinters on the ground as a larva in a silk hibernaculum coated with detritus, and must be able to survive being covered by high tides.
The adults are active from late afternoon and come to light.
The adults have been observed from late July towards early September.
The larva lives on Tripolium pannonicum. Also mentioned is Aster amellus for specimens observed inland, but is this correct?
It inhabits salt marshes.