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).