Symphytum officinale, Amstelveen, Schinkelbos: oviposition

mine

A dozen eggs are deposited in a semicircle at the leaf underside. After hatching the larvae eat themselves a communal corridor. After the first moult they begin the making of a very large, dark brown communal blotch, with conspicuous secondary feeding lines.

host plants

Boraginaceae, oligophagous

Pulmonaria officinalis; Symphytum asperum, officinale.

phenology

Larvae between May and November in two generations (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Scheirs, De Bruyn & von Tschirnhaus, 1996a).

NE recorded (van der Wulp, 1871a).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

distribution within Europe

From the UK to Italy, and from Lithuania to France (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

larva

notes

The mines can be difficult to distinguish from those of the much more common A. abiens. In that species the eggs are deposited singly, albeit often several in a single leaf. The young larvae start by making a narrow corridor; after their first moult the begin making a blotch. Even though these blotches generally fuse to a common megablotch, mostly it is possible to recognise remnants of the individual initial corridors as the hallmark of abiens.

Described by van der Wulp from the Netherlands (dunes of the Hague and Rotterdam).

references

Beiger (1970a), Beuk (2002), Buhr (1932a), Černý, Barták & Roháček (2004a), Černý & Vála (1999a), Černý, Vála & Barták (2001a), van Frankenhuyzen Houtman & Kabos (1982a), Griffiths (1962a), Hering (1955b, 1957a, 1962a), Kabos (1971a), Maček (1999a), Martinez (1984a), de Meijere (1924a, 1939a), Nowakowski (1954a), Pakalniškis (1982b), Papp & Černý (2015a), Scheirs, De Bruyn & von Tschirnhaus (1996a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Spencer (1954a, 1972a), Starke (1942a), Starý (1930a), Süss (1982a), von Tschirnhaus (1999a), van Wielink (2020a), van der Wulp (1871a)