Digitivalva arnicella (von Heyden, 1863)
on Arnica

Arnica montana, Tynaarlo © Ben van As

another specimen

Arnica montana, Borger; leg Gerard Oostermeijer & Sheila Luijten
mine
At first a light green, narrow, sometimes branching corridor, widening considerably later. Frass in an irregular, rather broad central line. The larva frequently moves to another leaf. Pupation in a separate, lower-surface mine.
hostplants
Asteraceae, monophagous
Arnica montana.
phenology
Larvae from autumn till May (Hering, 1957a).
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
From Scandinavia to the Pyrenees and Italy, and from France to the Baltic States and Romania (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
larva
pupa
Described by Patočka & Turčáni (2005a). See van Nieukerken & Koster (1999a) for a picture.
synonyms
Acrolepia arnicella.
notes
In the Netherlands a strongly declining species.
juvenile mines?
Regis Nossent found in België a single leaf of A. montana with three tiny vacated mines. Many points suggest that it are juveniles mines of D. arnicella, but they differ strongly from the fully developed mines of that species. This requires further study.
Arnica montana, Belgium, prov. Liege, Elsenborn, 17.vi.2018 © Regis Nossent: leaf with three vacated mines

one of the three mines

another of the three
references
Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Buhr (1964a), Corley, Merckx, Cardoso ao (2012a), Gaedike (1972a), Hering (1931a, 1957a, 1963a), Huber (1969a), Huemer (1986b), Klimesch (1958a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), van Nieukerken & Koster (1999a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Sønderup (1949a), Szőcs (1977a), Wegner (2010a).