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Stenoptilia zophodactylus (Duponchel, 1840) [Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae] Pterophorus zophodactylus Duponchel, 1840. Hist. nat. Lép. Fr. 11: 668, t. 314 fig. 4. Pterophorus canalis Walker, 1864. Cat. Lep. Het. B. M. 30: 544. Pterophorus loewii Zeller, 1847. Isis, Jena. 31 (1): 38. Mimeseoptilus semicostata Zeller, 1873. Stenoptilia zophodactylus (Duponchel, 1840).

Leaf-mine: Initially the larva mines a basal leaf, subsequently feeding in flower buds (which turn yellow), opened flowers and foliage (UKMoths). Larva: The camouflaged larvae vary from green to brownish yellow (UKMoths). Pupa: The slender green or red pupa is attached to the foodplant (UKMoths). Hosts in Britain: Gentianaceae       Blackstonia     UKMoths Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort Plant, in Pitkin & Plant, 2005 Centaurium erythraea Common Centaury Plant, in Pitkin & Plant, 2005 Centaurium erythraea Common Centaury UKMoths Gentiana     Plant, in Pitkin & Plant, 2005 Gentiana     UKMoths Hosts elsewhere: Gentianaceae       Blackstonia     Nederlandse bladmineerders Centaurium     Nederlandse bladmineerders Gentiana     Nederlandse bladmineerders Gentianella     Nederlandse bladmineerders Time of year - mines: Two or more generations from June to October or later. It is uncertain which stage (s) overwinter (UKMoths). Time of year - adults: The adult can be found from July to September in two or more overlapping broods. It generally flies from dusk onwards, but it can be disturbed from low herbage in the daytime. It can easily be mistaken for a faded specimen of the common Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla (agg.), so moths taken near large amounts of the foodplants should be examined closely (UKMoths). Distribution in Britain: Widely distributed in southern Britain (UKMoths) including East Kent, Hereford, North Essex, North Lincoln, South Devon, South Lancaster and South Lincoln (NBN Gateway distribution map - BRERC, JNCC, NE and SHWRG). Usually locally restricted to sparsely vegetated habitats, such as sea-cliffs, sand hills, old sand and gravel workings and chalky or dry pastures, where its foodplants grow in quantity and the moth may be abundant (UKMoths) Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in Europe including Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Corsica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Danish mainland, Finland, French mainland, Germany, Gibraltar, Greek mainland, Hungary, Italian mainland, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, North Aegean Is., Poland, Portuguese mainland, Romania, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spanish mainland, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Yugoslavia (Karsholt & van Nieukerken in Fauna Europaea). Parasitoids: Unknown.

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Last updated 28-Sep-2008  Brian Pitkin