Atemelia torquatella (Lienig & Zeller, 1846)
northern ermel
on Betula, etc.
Betula pendula, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Balen, de Most, 1.ix.2020 © Carina Van Steenwinkel
young larvae are yellow
Betula pubescens, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Balen, de Most, 2.x.2020 © Carina Van Steenwinkel
Betula pubescens, Belgium, prov. Limbourg, Genk, de Maten, 24.ix.2016 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: much silk on the leaves
Betula pubescens, Edem Hindekamp, 14.ix.2007
same mine, underside
mine
A very clear blotch, without preceding corridor, usually harbouring several crimson marbled larvae (young larvae are yellow!). The mine mostly begins near the base of the midrib. Most frass is ejected from the mine, but part of the grains are trapped in a loose spinning below the leaf, that has been made by the larvae during excursions. The larvae can leave their mine and restart elsewhere. They hibernate individually in a discoid cocoon.
host plants
Betulaceae, Ulmacee; narrowly polyphagous
Alnus; Betula nana, pendula, pubescens; Ulmus “campestris”, minor.
In Britain normally only on Birch. However, in Schotland a larva has been found mining on Myrica gale, that completed its development on that plant (Beavan & Heckford, 2012a).
phenology
Larvae in August – September (Agassiz, 1996a).
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 and Finland to the Pyrenees, Italy, and Macedonia, and from Britain to northern Russia and Hungary (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
larva
pupa
Illustrated by Patočka (1997a, 1999b), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).
references
Agassiz (1996a), Bachmaier (1965a), Beavan & Heckford (2012a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Buhr (1935a), Corley, Rosete, Gonçalves ao (2016a), Grandi (1931a, 1933a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1921b, 1927b, 1930e, 1957a), Huisman, Koster, van Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2004a), Kozlov, van Nieukerken, Zverev & Zvereva (2013a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein, Gielis, Huisman, ao (1988a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Lhomme (1934b), van Nieukerken, Gielis, Huisman, Koster, Kuchlein, van der Wolf & Wolschrijn (1993a), Patočka (1997a, 1999b), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a, 2013a), De Prins, Steeman & Sierens (2015a), Ritter (1931a), Schütze (1931a), Skala (1951b), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Szőcs (1977a, 1981a), Viramo (1962a), Wörz (1957a), Zoerner (1969a).