Plant Parasites of Europe

leafminers, galls and fungi

Stemmatophora brunnealis

Stemmatophora brunnealis (Treitschke, 1829)

polyphagous on herbs

Stemmatophora brunnealis imago

Greece, Lefkas, Katouna, 22.vi.2022 © Laurens van der Linde

parasite

The larva feeds on the lower leaves from a very long white silken tube that reaches down deeply in the soil, between the roots of the host plant, and where it retreats during the day and upon disturbance, and were also the pupation takes place.

host plants

Epilobium dodonaei; Globularia vulgaris; Helianthemum oelandicum.

phenology

Univoltine; the adult emerges around September.

distribution within Europe

(PESI, 2019).

larva

Body pitch black, weakly shining; head, prothoracic and anal plates and legs dark brown; piancula black, each one bearing a reddish brown seta. When held in the hand the larva does not curl, but takes a rectangular attitude.

pupa

Reddish brown; see Patočka & Turčáni.

synonyms

Actenia brunnealis.

references

Fiumi (2019a), Krone (1904a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).

Last modified 4.viii.2023