Pilosella officinarum, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Meerhout © Carina Van Steenwinkel

mine

The mine begins in the midrib, especially in a lower leaf, extending into the leaf disc, branching irregularly or pinnately, may also locally be blotchlike. The mine is brown and very transparent. Sides very irregularly eaten out. Frass loosely dispersed or in a loose central line, but may also be pressed against the sides of the corridor. The larva with chitinised head, no feet, pupates outside the mine. The larva may also leave the mine and restart elsewhere, even when this concerns a different plant species.

host plants

Very polyphagous, but with a preference for Asteraceae

Ajuga reptans; Aposeris; Aquilegia vulgaris; Aster; Bellidiastrum michelii; Bellis; Centaurea; Chondrilla; Cichorium intybus; Crepis biennis, praemorsa; Cyclamen; Erigeron; Hieracium murorum; Himantoglossum; Hieracium murorum; Hypochaeris radicata; Lactuca muralis, virosa; Lapsana communis; Leontodon hispidus; Leucanthemum vulgare; Myosotis sylvatica; Picris hieracioides; Pilosella bauhinii, cymosa, officinarum, piloselloides subsp. praealta; Plantago macrorhiza; Ranunculus; Rumex acetosella; Scorzoneroides autumnalis; Senecio viscosus; Solidago virgaurea; Sonchus asper, oleraceus; Symphyotrichum salignum; Taraxacum officinale; Viola canina, tricolor.

Bland & Nelson (1997a) report mining on Allium ursinum. Because no larva was mentioned this observation is not certain.

phenology

Larvae in May-July (Hering, 1957a; Buhr, 1964a; Scherf, 1964a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Curculionidae.be, 2010).

NE recorded (Heijerman, 1993a).

LUX recorded (Ellis).

distribution within Europe

From Sweden to the Iberian Peninsula and Italy and from Ireland to the Ukraine (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

larva

synonyms

Comasinus setiger.

notes

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

references

Bland & Nelson (1997a), Buhr (1933a, 1956a, 1964a), Dieckmann (1986a), Haase (1942a), (Heijerman, 1993a), Hering (1925a, 1928a, 1930a, 1957a), Huber (1969a), Maček (1999a), Mifsud & Colonnelli (2010a, Ostojá-Starzewski (2002a), Rheinheimer & Hassler (2010a), Robbins (1991a), Scherf (1964a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Sønderup (1949a), Ugarte San Vicente (2005a), Vorst (2010a).