Leaf-miner:
The
first generation initially forms an unmistakable leaf-mine on Anthyllis
vulneraria, but the second generation feeds on the flowers.
Feeding signs on other plants vary in appearance. Larvae can move
between sewn leaves, and more than one larva may be found together
(UKMoths).
Larvae
in a small full depth blotch, often with extensions. Frass concentrated
in one corner of the mine. The mining activities may cause the leaf
to roll inwards. Older larvae live free among spun leaves, but still
they may make then full depth mines by feeding on the leaf tissue
from a small opening (Bladmineerders van Europa).
Larva: The larvae of moths have a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding), six thoracic legs and abdominal legs (see examples).
Dark purple to greyish brown with a faint light dorsal line on the
first three segments. Also the constrictions between these segments
are whitish. Anal shield and thoracic feet black. Pronotum with
a black marking. See Huertas Dionisio (2005a) for an extensive description
of larva and pupa (Bladmineerders van Europa).
The
larva is also illustrated in UKMoths.
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
Adult:
The adult is illustrated in UKMoths. The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: Larvae are usually stated to occur in April-May
and July-August, but it is uncertain how the species overwinters.
Early instar larvae can be found on A. vulneraria in September
(1.25 mm- 2.3mm, pers. obs. I.F. Smith) and in January (MBGBI 4-2),
and A. vulneraria plants covered with netting in November
with undetected early larvae or ova had 2.5 mm larvae the following
March (pers. obs. I.F. Smith) (UKMoths).
Time
of year - adults: There are two generations, May and June and
again in August and September (UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: A reasonably common species
throughout most of the British Isles including Lancashire (Greater
Manchester, Chorlton) and Chester (UKMoths);
Anglesey, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Caernarvonshire, Cambridgeshire,
Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Dorset, East Cornwall, East Kent, East Norfolk, East Suffolk,
Flintshire, Glamorgan, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wighht, Kirkudbrightshire, Leicestershire, Merionethshire, Middlesex, North Hampshire, North Somerset,
North-east Yorkshire, Outer Hebrides, Pembrokeshire,
South Devon, South Hamphsire, South Wiltshire, South-est Yorkshire, South-west Yorkshire, Stafford, Surrey, West Cornwall,
West Gloucestershire, West Lancashire, West Norfolk, West Perthshire, West Suffolk, Westmorland and Wigtownshire (NBN
Atlas), and the Channel Is.
(Fauna Europaea).
Also
recorded in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (Fauna Europaea and National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Albania,
Austria, Balearic Is., Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corsica, Crete, Croatia, Czech Republic, Danish
mainland, Dodecanese Is., Estonia, Finland, French mainland, Germany,
Greek mainland, Hungary, Italian mainland, Kaliningrad Region, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madeira, Malta, North Aegean Is.,
Norwegian mainland, Poland, Portuguese mainland, Romania, Russia
- Central, East, North, Northwest and South, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spanish mainland, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands,
Ukraine and Yugoslavia (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
Anthyllis
vulneraria, Galega
officinalis, Glycine
max, Lathyrus
pratensis, Medicago
sativa, Melilotus
albus, Onobrychis
viciifolia, Ononis
repens, Ononis
spinosa, Trifolium
pratense, Trifolium
repens, Vicia
cracca, Vicia
faba |
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
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