Eucosma lacteana (Treitschke, 1835)

maritime bell

on Artemisa

feeding trace: silken tube with destroyed flower heads (from Rickert)

larva

The larva lives in a silken tube in the inflorescence, feeding on the capitula and the ripening achenes, all bound together with silk. Pupation in a cocoon among the litter.
In the cecidological literature it is stated that the larva would cause a hard, elongated swelling of the apical part of the main shoot. Probably this is due to confusion with Eucosma metzneriana or E. wimmerana.

host plants

Asteraceae, monophagous

Artemisia campestris, maritima.

The association that is mention on Lepiforum with A. absinthium, vulgaris seems dubious.

phenology

Univoltine; hibernation as mature larva.

distribution within Europe

(PESI, 2019).

larva

Body yellowish to reddish; head dark brown; prothoracic plate light to dark brown, lateral and psoterior margin darkly punctuated; pinacula hardly differentiated (Swatschek).

pupa

See Patočka & Turčáni.

synonyms

Epiblema lacteana; Eucosma maritima Humphries & Westwood, 1845.

references

Bellmann (2012a), Bradley, Tremewan & Smith (1979a), Buhr (1964a), Dauphin & Aniotsbeehere (1997a), Disqué (1905a), Gielis, Huisman, Kuchlein ao (1985a), Hancock & Bland (2015b, Houard (1909a), Huisman, Koster, Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2003a), Lepiforum (2019), Medianero, Parra, Sánchez & Nieves-Aldrey (2007a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Rickert (2010a, 2011a), Schütze (1931a), Swatschek (1958a), Szőcs (1977a), Tomasi (2014a), Wegner (2010a).