Scrobipalpa costella explained

Scrobipalpa costella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in western Europe.

The wingspan is .[1] The head is ochreous, sometimesgrey-sprinkled. Terminal joint of palpi shorter than second. Forewings reddish -ochreous, sometimes suffusedly irrorated with dark fuscous; a dark fuscous triangular costal blotch extending from 1/4 to 2/3 and reaching fold, including the black stigmata, first discal followed by another black dot obliquely beneath it; an indistinct pale angulated fascia at 3/4; often a dark fuscous terminal suffusion. Hindwings 1, grey. The larva is greyish green; dorsal and subdorsal lines sometimes darker; 2 and 3 dark purplish-brown; head and plate of 2 black.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Adults appear in September and spend the winter.[6] After overwintering, they are on wing till June.[7]

The larvae feed on Solanum dulcamara. They mine the leaves of their host plant.[8] Larvae can be found from mid September to June.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.microlepidoptera.nl/soorten/species.php?speciescode=330990&p=1 microlepidoptera.nl
  2. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description
  3. Heath, J.,ed. 1976 The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 4 Part 2
  4. Langmaid, J. R., Palmer, S. M. & Young, M. R. [eds]. 2018 A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland [3rd ed.]Reading, Berkshire. British Entomological and Natural History Society
  5. https://lepiforum.org/wiki/page/Scrobipalpa_costella lepiforum.de includes images
  6. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=819 UKmoths
  7. http://webh01.ua.ac.be/vve/Checklists/Lepidoptera/Gelechiidae/Scostella.htm Lepidoptera of Belgium
  8. http://www.bladmineerders.nl/minersf/lepidopteramin/scrobipalpa/costella/costella.htm bladmineerders.nl