Scrobipalpula tussilaginis (Stainton, 1867)

colt’s-foot groundling

mine

Initially a branching corridor, later more an elongate upper-surface blotch from the leaf base tot the leaf margin, finally occupying a good part of the leaf. Most frass is deposited in one section of the mine, forming a crust below which the very agile larvae can retreat. Pupation external, at the underside of the leaf or in the litter.

host plants

Asteraceae,narrowly oligophagous

Petasites albus, hybridus; Tussilago farfara.

phenology

Larvae in August – September (Hering, 1957a), but two generations occur in Britain, in July and October – November (Pelham-Clinton, 1989a; Bland ao, 2002a).

BENELUX

BE recorded by Jean-Yves Baugnée (De Prins ao).

NE recorded (Huisman & Koster, 1998a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

From Britain to the Pyrenees, Italy, Greece, and the Ukraïne (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

Apple green; head and prothoracic plate dark brown; full-grown larva with rose-red segment limits (Pelham-Clinton, 1989a).

synonyms

Gnorimoschema tussilaginellum; Lita, Scrobipalpa tussilaginella (von Heinemann, 1870).

notes

Preference for small leaves, just above the ground, of plants growing on bare sand or clay (Bland ao, 2002a).

references

Baran (2013a), Bland, Heckford & Langmaid (200a), Elsner, Huemer & Tokár (1999a), Hering (1957a), Huemer & Karsholt (1998a, 2010a), Huisman & Koster (1998a), Klimesch (1950c, 1958a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Leutsch (2011a), Maček (1999a), Pelham-Clinton (1989a), De Prins, Steeman & Sierens (2016a), Skala (1951a), Skala (1950a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Szőcs (1977a), Wieser & Huemer (1999a).