Argyresthia abdominalis Zeller, 1839

downland argent

mine

The larvae mines several leaves out, working from the base to the tip. It migrates to the next leaf by way of a short corridor in the bark of the twig. The larva therefore, contrary to A. aurulentella, does not need to make openings in the needles for entrance or exit. Pupation external, in a dense papery spinning on the twig or in the ground.

host plants

Cupressaceae, monophagous

Juniperus communis.

phenology

Larvae in March, April (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2010).

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

LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

Check (PESI, 2018); also Iberian Peninsula

larva

Body orange brown, spotted reddish brown. Head black, prothoracic plate dark grey, spotted black.

references

Agassiz (1996a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Buhr (1935b), Friese (1969a), Hering (1957a), Huemer (2012a), Konečná (2013a), Kozlov & Kullberg (2010a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Laštůvka & Laštůvka (2017a), De Prins (1998a), Schütze (1899a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Sønderup (1949a), Stigter & van Frankenhuyzen (1992a), Szőcs (1977a).