Agonopterix subpropinquella (Stainton, 1849)

ruddy flat-body

mine

Short full depth corridor. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues feeding from a spinning at the leaf underside, from where window feeding occurs.

hostplants

Asteraceae, oligophagous

Arctium lappa; Carduus bourgaei, crispus, tenuiflorus; Centaurea cyanus, exarata, jacea, nigra, scabiosa, sphaerocephala; Cirsium acaulon, arvense, creticum, vulgare; Cyanara segetum; Cynara cardunculus; Galactites tomentosus; Klasea integrifolia; Onopordum acanthium.

phenology

Larvae in June – July (Harper, Langmaid & Emnmet, 2002a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

Almost entire Europe (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

Larva with black head and prothoracal plate (the latter sometimes with a median white line). Body, anal shield and thoracic feet dull green with faint darker length lines. Pinacula black.

pupa

Described by Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).

synonyms

Agonopterix rhodochrella Herrich-Schäffer, 1854.

notes

Between the mining phase and the free life there is a period during which the larve eat away the lower parts of the leaf, but spare the hair cover. These “pseudo mines” have a “floor” of easily removable plant hairs (Hering, 1967a).

references

Buhr (1935a), Corley (2005a), Corley, Rosete, Gonçalves ao (2016a), Hannemann (1995a), Harper, Langmaid & Emmet (2002a), Hering (1957a, 1967a), Huertas Dionisio (2002a, 2007a), Huisman (2012a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a, Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Skala (1950a), Szőcs (1977a).