Orthochaetes insignis (Aubé, 1863)

Prunella vulgaris, Spain, prov. Asturias, Gijon © Jean-Yves Baugnée

detail

Umbilicus, Spain, Asturias, Gijón, Colina del Cuevo (Playa Serin) © Jean-Yyes Baugnée

another mine

living larva

mine

Rather narrow gallery, untidy and sometimes branched, usually starting from the base of the leaf, in particular the midrib. Sides of the corridor irregularly eaten out, not really parallel. Frass mostly present, and then in a central line. The larva is capable of leaving the mine and start a new one elsewhere. These later mines are much broader, anf the frass is scattered irregularly. Larvae without feet. Pupation outside the mine (Hering, 1957a).

host plants

Very polyphagous

Aster; Anagallis arvensis; Bellis perennis; Campanula; Carduus; Carlina; Centaurium; Cerastium; Cirsium pannonicum; Cochlearia; Cyclamen hederifolium; Dactylorhiza; Erigeron; Geranium nodosum; Gnaphalium; Himantoglossum; Inula helenium; Lamium; Lapsana communis; Leucanthemum maximum; Myosotis; Orchis; Polygala; Primula elatior; Prunella vulgaris; Ranunculus repens; Salvia; Senecio vulgare; Silene; Smyrnium olusatrum; Tanacetum; Teesdalia nudicaulis; Umbilicus; Valerianella locusta; Verbascum; Veronica.

phenology

Larvae almost throughout the year (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

Not known from the Benelux countries (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

British Isles, France, Iberian Peninsula, Italy (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

larva

synonyms

Comasinus insignis, C. insignus

notes

In the northern part of its distribution the species reproduces parthenogenetically.

references

Hering (1957a), Huber (1969a), Maček (1999a), Morris (1982a), Ostojá-Starzewski (2002a).