Ochsenheimeria taurella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

feathered stem-moth

on grasses

Dactylis glomerata, Belgium, prov. East Flanders, Buggenhout, 8.iv.2019 © Ruben Meert: larva in the lower part of the stem

larva

larva taken out of the host plant

mine

Not described. The larva mines just a few days in the leaf, then continues als a stem borer on the lower part of the stem. They regularly move to a new stem. The central leaves of the infested plants wither and die.

host plants

Poaceae, oligophagous

Alopecurus pratensis; Avena sativa; Bromus; Dactylis glomerata; Hordeum vulgare; Poa trivialis; Secale cereale; Triticum aestivum.

phenology

Larvae from September till May (Emmet, 1985b).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2011).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2011).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2011).

distribution within Europe

Probably all Europe (Fauna Europaea, 2011).

larva

Very slender, white, head pale brown, a block spot around each stigma.

synonyms

Ochsenheimeria birdella (Curtis, 1831), O. mediopectinellus (Haworth, 1828). The synonymy of mediopectinellus with taurella is moot.

references

Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Davis (1975a), Emmet (1989b), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Kuzmits (2003a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a), van Rossem, Burger & van der Bund (1961a).