Chirosia albitarsis (Zetterstedt, 1845)

on Pteridium

mine

Oviposition normally on one of the lower secondary pinnulae. The larva enters a vein and from there descends as a borer in the rachis. Often several larvae together. Attacked leaves can be recognised because the leaf is stunted, often remaining partly unfolded. Pupation in the mine or in the ground. See Brown & McGavin (1982a) for details of the biology.

host plants

Dennstaedtiaceae, monophagous

Pteridium aquilinum.

phenology

Larvae in May-June (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

BE not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

NE recorded (Beuk, Prijs & de Jong, 2002a).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

distribution within Europe

From Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and Greece, and from the UK to Poland and Roumania (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

larva

Can be distinguished from the larva of Ch. crassiseta by having the upper rear arm of the cephalic skeleton bifid.

larva (from de Meijere, 1947a)

cephalic skeleton

references

Beuk, Prijs & de Jong (2002a), Brown & McGavin (1982a), Hering (1957a), de Meijere (1947a), Robbins (1991a), Roskam (2009a), Spooner & Bowdrey (2012a).