Scrobipalpa artemisiella (Treitschke, 1833)

thyme moth

on Thymus, Mentha

Thymus pulegioides, Belgium, prov. Namur, Seilles, RN Sclaigneaux à Andenne, 2.v.2018 © Ruben Meert: habitat

free-living larva

another image

mine

Young larvae make small, brown, full depth blotch mines without frass in the young leaves, from the protection of a spinning. Later they cause upper-surface window feeding, while hidden among spun leaves.

host plants

Lamiaceae, oligophagous

Thymus praecox subsp. ligusticus, pulegioides, serpyllum; Satureja montana.

Possibly also Mentha; references to Achillea, Artemisia campestris, Centaurea panicalta, C. stoebe (“Acosta rhenana”) are incorrect, probably partly caused by confusion with Scrobipalpula psilella.

phenology

Mining larvae in May – June (Bland ea, 2002a; Hering, 1957a; Jansen, 1999a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2010).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2010).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

All Europe (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

larva

Body dull brownish green, five purplish-brown length lines; second thoracic segment dark purplish-brown; pinnacula small, black; prolegs concolorous with body. Head, prothoracic and anal plates, and thoracic legs black (Heckford, 1955a). Jansen (199a) adds that some larvae have a brown, rather than green .

pupa

See Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).

synonyms

Gnorimoschema artemisiellum.

references

Bland, Corley, Emmet ao (2002a), Elsner, Huemer & Tokár (1999a), Heckford (1995a), Hering (1957a), Huemer & Karsholt (2010a), Jansen (1999a), Kaitila (1996a), Kasy (1987a), Kuchlein & Donner (1991a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Leutsch (2011a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Robbins (1991a), van Roosmalen, Wijker & Knijnsberg (2013a), Sattler (1986a).