The leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects
 

(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)

by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds

 

Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835)
[Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]

Light Grey Tortrix


Sciaphila incertana Treitschke, 1835. Schmett. Europ. 10 (3): 91.
Cnephasia incertana
(Treitschke, 1835).


Leaf-miner: In the first instar the larva mines the leaves, forming short, irregular, blotch-like mines, but in later instars it lives externally, feeding in spun leaves and often twisting those of tender shoots (Bradley et al., 1973).

Small, full depth mine without a definite shape; little frass. Some silk is deposited in the mine. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues feeding among spun leaves (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).

Head light-brown or yellowish brown, edged with black postero-laterally, ocellar area blackish; prothoracic plate black edged with whitish anteriorly; abdomen dull dark green; pinacula distinct, black, sometimes brownish but with black bases to setae; anal plate large, black (Bradley et al., 1973). The overwintering larvae feed in a spinning on a range of herbaceous plants (UKMoths).

Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).

Dull black; spines on the cremaster not bent into hooks, short, their lenght less than the distance to a ridge lying ventrad; caudal bristles only slightly thickened away from their point of origin, bent distally to form hooks (Bradley et al., 1973).

Adult: The adult is illustrated in UKMoths. and the Encyclopedia of Life. The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.

Comments: Ranunculus ficaria is treated as Ficaria verna (Lesser Celandine) by Stace (2010).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Asteraceae        
Chrysanthemum       Bradley et al., 1973
Fabaceae        
Lathyrus       Bradley et al., 1973
Lotus       Bradley et al., 1973
Medicago       Bradley et al., 1973
Phaseolus       Bradley et al., 1973
Trifolium       Bradley et al., 1973
Plantaginaceae        
Plantago       Bradley et al., 1973
Plantago       UKMoths
Polygonaceae        
Rumex       Bradley et al., 1973
Rumex       UKMoths
Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Pitkin & Plant
Ranunculaceae        
Ranunculus       Bradley et al., 1973
Rosaceae       Bradley et al., 1973
Fragaria ananassa Garden Strawberry British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bradley et al., 1973
Malus       Bradley et al., 1973
Vitaceae        
Vitis       Bradley et al., 1973

Hosts elsewhere:

Aceraceae        
Acer       Bladmineerders van Europa
Adoxaceae        
Adoxa moschatellina Moschatel British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Apiaceae        
Aegopodium podagraria Ground-elder British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Carum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Chaerophyllum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Conopodium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Daucus carota Carrot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Foeniculum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Heracleum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Pimpinella       Bladmineerders van Europa
Scandix       Bladmineerders van Europa
Sison amomum     Bladmineerders van Europa
Araliaceae        
Hedera helix Ivy British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Asteraceae        
Achillea clavenae     Bladmineerders van Europa
Achillea millefolium Yarrow British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Adenostyles alpina     Bladmineerders van Europa
Arctium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Arnica       Bladmineerders van Europa
Artemisia       Bladmineerders van Europa
Aster       Bladmineerders van Europa
Bellis       Bladmineerders van Europa
Calendula       Bladmineerders van Europa
Carthamus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Centaurea       Bladmineerders van Europa
Cichorium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Cirsium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Crepis       Bladmineerders van Europa
Helianthus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Lactuca       Bladmineerders van Europa
Scorzonera       Bladmineerders van Europa
Serratula       Bladmineerders van Europa
Sonchus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Tussilago       Bladmineerders van Europa
Zinnia elegans Youth-and-age   Bladmineerders van Europa
Boraginaceae        
Echium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Lithospermum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Myosotis sylvatica Wood Forget-me-not British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Pulmonaria officinalis Lungwort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Symphytum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Brassicaceae        
Barbarea       Bladmineerders van Europa
Brassica napus Rape   Bladmineerders van Europa
Brassica rapa Turnip   Bladmineerders van Europa
Cakile maritima     Bladmineerders van Europa
Capsella       Bladmineerders van Europa
Cardamine       Bladmineerders van Europa
Cheiranthus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Erysimum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Hirschfeldia incana Hoary Mustard British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Lepidium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Neslia       Bladmineerders van Europa
Thlaspi       Bladmineerders van Europa
Campanulaceae        
Campanula       Bladmineerders van Europa
Cannabaceae        
Humulus lupulus Hop British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Caprifoliaceae        
Lonicera       Bladmineerders van Europa
Caryophyllaceae        
Agrostemma githago Corncockle British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Cerastium fontanum subsp. triviale     Bladmineerders van Europa
Cerastium glomeratum Sticky Mouse-ear British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Cerastium semidecandrum Little Mouse-ear British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Holosteum umbellatum Jagged Chickweed   Bladmineerders van Europa
Silene latifolia subsp. alba White Campion ssp.   Bladmineerders van Europa
Chenopodiaceae        
Atriplex       Bladmineerders van Europa
Chenopodium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Clusiaceae        
Hypericum       Bladmineerders van Europa

Colchicaceae

       
Colchicum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Convolvulaceae        
Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Convolvulus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Crassulaceae        
Umbilicus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Cucurbitaceae        
Bryonia       Bladmineerders van Europa
Cucurbita       Bladmineerders van Europa
Dioscoreaceae        
Tamus communis Black Bryony British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Euphorbiaceae        
Euphorbia       Bladmineerders van Europa
Fabaceae        
Anthyllis       Bladmineerders van Europa
Astragalus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Galega       Bladmineerders van Europa
Genista       Bladmineerders van Europa
Lathyrus niger Black Pea   Bladmineerders van Europa
Lens culinaris Lentil British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Lupinus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Melilotus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Onobrychis       Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium pratense Red Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trigonella       Bladmineerders van Europa
Vicia faba Broad Bean British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Fagaceae        
Fagus sylvatica Beech British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Fumariaceae        
Fumaria       Bladmineerders van Europa
Geraniaceae        
Erodium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Grossulariaceae        
Ribes       Bladmineerders van Europa
Hippocastanaceae        
Aesculus hippocastanum Horse-chestnut British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Lamiaceae        
Lamium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Melissa       Bladmineerders van Europa
Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Teucrium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Liliaceae        
Gagea       Bladmineerders van Europa
Tulipa       Bladmineerders van Europa
Onagraceae        
Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Plantaginaceae        
Globularia       Bladmineerders van Europa
Plumbaginaceae        
Armeria maritima Thrift British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Poaceae        
Dactylis       Bladmineerders van Europa
Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary-grass British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Polygonaceae        
Fagopyrum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Rumex       Bladmineerders van Europa
Portulacaceae        
Claytonia       Bladmineerders van Europa
Primulaceae        
Androsace       Bladmineerders van Europa
Cyclamen       Bladmineerders van Europa
Ranunculaceae        
Aconitum       Bladmineerders van Europa
Aquilegia       Bladmineerders van Europa
Caltha       Bladmineerders van Europa
Delphinium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Myosurus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Ranunculus ficaria * Lesser Celandine British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Rosaceae        
Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Alchemilla       Bladmineerders van Europa
Crataegus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Filipendula       Bladmineerders van Europa
Geum urbanum Wood Avens British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Rubiaceae        

Asperula

      Bladmineerders van Europa
Saxifragaceae        
Chrysosplenium       Bladmineerders van Europa
Saxifraga       Bladmineerders van Europa
Scrophulariaceae        
Mimulus       Bladmineerders van Europa
Scrophularia       Bladmineerders van Europa
Valerianaceae        
Valeriana tripteris     Bladmineerders van Europa
Verbenaceae        
Verbena       Bladmineerders van Europa

Comments: On the continent it has been recorded on more than 200 host plants (Bradley et al., 1973).

Time of year - larvae: September to May and June, the young larva spinning a hibernaculm and overwintering (Bradley et al., 1973).

Time of year - adults: June and July (UKMoths; Bradley et al., 1973).

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in Britain including Anglesey, Bedfordshire, Breconshire, Caernarvonshire, Cambridgeshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Cheshire, Cumberland, Denbighshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, Dumfriesshire, Dunbartonshire, Durham, East Cornwall, East Gloucestershire, East Kent, East Norfolk, East Suffolk, Easterness, Forfar, Glamorgan, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Wight, Kincardineshire, Leicestershire, Linlithgow, Merionethshire, Mid-west Yorkshire, Middlesex, North Aberdeenshire, North Essex, North Hampshire, North Northumberland, North Somerset, North Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire, Pembrokeshire, Radnorshire, Shropshire, South Devon, South Essex, South Hampshire, South Northumberland, South Wiltshire, South-east Yorkshire, North-west Yorkshire, Stafford, Stirlingshire, Surrey, West Cornwall, West Gloucestershire, West Lancashire, West Norfolk, West Perthshire, West Suffolk, West Sussex, Westmorland, Wigtoenshire and Worcestershire (NBN Atlas). Also recorded from the Channel Is. (Fauna Europaea).

Also recorded from the Republic of Ireland. See also Ireland's National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Crete, Croatia, Czech Republic, Danish mainland, Estonia, European Turkey, Finland, French mainland, Germany, Greek mainland, Hungary, Ireland, Italian mainland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Norwegian mainland, Poland, Portuguese mainland, Romania, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spanish mainland, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Ukraine (Fauna Europaea). Also recorded in North Africa, Asia Minor and Transcaucasia (Bradley et al., 1973).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Achillea millefolium, Adoxa moschatellina, Aegopodium podagraria, Aesculus hippocastanum, Agrimonia eupatoria, Agrostemma githago, Armeria maritima, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Cakile maritima, Calystegia sepium, Cerastium fontanum subsp. triviale, Cerastium glomeratum, Cerastium semidecandrum, Daucus carota, Epilobium hirsutum, Fagus sylvatica, Geum urbanum, Hedera helix, Hirschfeldia incana, Holosteum umbellatum, Humulus lupulus, Lathyrus niger, Lens culinaris, Myosotis sylvatica, Phalaris arundinacea, Pulmonaria officinalis, Ranunculus ficaria (= Ficaria verna), Rumex acetosa, Silene latifolia subsp. alba, Sison amomum, Stachys sylvatica, Tamus communis, Trifolium pratense, Vicia faba

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:

Ichneumonoidea - Links to species no longer available  
Dolichogenidea annularis (Haliday, 1834) Braconidae: Microgastrinae
Dolichogenidea imperator (Wilkinson, 1939) Braconidae: Microgastrinae


External links: Search the internet:

Belgian Lepidoptera
Biodiversity Heritage Library
Bladmineerders van Europa
British leafminers
Encyclopedia of Life
Fauna Europaea
NBN Atlas
NHM UK Checklist
UKMoths

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Last updated 12-Jul-2019  Brian Pitkin Top of page