Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller, 1839)
leek moth
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).