Tebenna micalis (Mann, 1857)

vagrant metal-mark

mine

A sizable blotch with an ample quantity of frass. The larva may leave its mine and restart elsewhere. Older larvae often live free in a web under the leaf.

This description, based on Hering (1927a, 1957a), and probably stemming from his experience on the Canary Island is not supported by later authors, who only write about free-living larvae. Also the description by Pelham-Clinton (1985a) and pictures on the internet rather suggest lower-surface window feeding.

host plants

Asteraceae, oligophagous

Anaphalis triplinervis; Arctium lappa, minus; Carduus baeocephalus, crispus; Carlina acanthifolia, acaulis, vulgaris; Cirsium vulgare; Cynara scolymus; Dittrichia viscosa; Echinops; Filago germanica; Laphangium luteoalbum; Helichrysum foetidum, italicum subsp. picardii, melaleucum; Inula conyzae, helenium, salicina; Onopordum acanthium; Pulicaria arabiva subsp. hispanica, dysenterica, vulgaris; Vogtia annua.

A reference to Eryngium spinalba (Apiaceae) is dubious.

phenology

Larve in Britain in August-September; in southern Europe probably all year round (Pelham-Clinton, 1985a).

distribution within Europe

Europe south of the line Ireland, Britain, France, Slovakia (Fauna Europaea, 2009); in Britain an immigrant that occurs irregularly.

larva

Body pale green with black pinacula; head pale brown; prothoracic and anal shield transparent with black speckles.

pupa

In a spindle-shaped cocoon at the underside of a leaf of the host plant; the pupa is extruded upon emergence.

synonyms

Choreutis micalis; Tebenna bjerkandrella of the English authors until the publication by Heckford (1990a). Possibly also the references to bjerkandrella by Kvičala (1938a) and Skala & Zavřel (1945a) relate to micalis.

references

Aguiar & Karsholt (2006a), Baldizzone & Scalercio (2018a), Corley, Merckx, Marabuto ao (2013a), Heckford (1984a, 1990a), Hering (1927a, 1957a), Huertas Dionisio (2007a), Huertas Dionisio & Fuentes (2004a), King (1999a), Klimesch (1956c, 1983a), Kvičala (1938a), Nunes (2021a), Pelham-Clinton (1985a), De Prins & Meert (2016a), Rota, Aguiar & Karsholt (2014a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Sonderegger (2011a).