Last modified: Dec. 28, 2023, 12:53 p.m.
It is a native species of North America that has been accidentally introduced in Europe in 80’s, where it has been recorded in Spain, Italy and Denmark.
The species is probably brought from Southern Europe with plant material due to human activities and is now able to establish itself in the wild.
First observation in Belgium in 2018 in WV.
Exotic
For your information, to the best of our knowledge, the first 10 Belgian observations are listed here:
1) 1 ex. on 08.ix.2018 (light trap) at Westkapelle (WV), leg. K. Van Damme.
2) 1 ex. on 22.xii.2021 (indoors) at Genk (LI), leg. B. Wouters.
Wingspan male 10–15 mm, female 12–15 mm. Forewing color is tan to brown. Males have a brown to dark-brown well-defined median fascia that is continuous from costa to dorsum and a pre-apical costal spot. The proximal border of the median fascia is well-marked, straight and oblique and is edged proximally by a whitish line, its distal border is more diffuse.
Females have similar markings but the median fascia and costal spot are usually less distinct.
Larvae live in silk tubes built on the surface of leaves. Larvae will occasionally feed in the buds or fruits of living plants.
The moths fly in several generations a year.
It is known in the economic literature as a pest of Fragaria sp. and Citrus. Larvae prefer to feed on dead or decaying leaves and have also been reared from fungus. Also reported on Chrysanthemum, Senecia jacobaea, Stachys and Solanum.
Found usually around human habitats.
