Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller, 1839)

leek moth

Acrolepiopsis assectella: mine on Allium schoenoprasum

Allium schoenoprasum, Belgium, prov. Liëge, Vieux-Waleffe © Jean-Yves Baugnée

mine

Very variable mine: corridor or blotch, with or without frass, in the tubular leaves or in the stem. Pupation external, in a reticulate cocoon.

host plants

Alliaceae, monophagous

Allium ampeloprasum, cepa, fistulosum, lusitanicum, porrum, sativum, schoenoprasum.

phenology

Two generation in Sweden to up to eight on North Africa (Mason ao, 2011a); hibernation as a pupa or adult moths (Hering, 1963a; Landry, 2007a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

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

LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

All Europe minus Ireland and the Balkan Peninsula (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

synonyms

Acrolepia, Digitivalva assectella.

notes

An important pest on onion, garlic, and leek (Mason ao, 2010a, 2011a).

The reticulate cocoon strongly resembles the one of the related Plutella xylostella, but the material in assectella is clearly coarser (Landry, 2007a).

references

Aarvik, Karsholt, Larsen & Schnack (1988a), Baraniak (1990a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Buhr (1935a), Gaedike (1972a), Gómez de Aizpúrua (2003a), Heppner (1987a), Hering (1957a, 1963a), Huber (1969a), Huemer (2012a), Kasy (1965a), Klimesch (1958a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Landry (2007a), Mason, Appleby, Juneja ao (2010a), Mason, Weiss, Olfert ao (2011a), van Nieukerken & Koster (1999a), Sønderup (1949a), Szőcs (1977a), Wieser & Huemer (1997a).