Agonopterix umbellana

Agonopterix umbellana (gorse soft shoot moth) is a moth of the family Depressariidae. It is native to western Europe, but was introduced to Hawaii in 1988 and New Zealand in 1990 to control Ulex europaeus.[1]

A sprig of Ulex nanus with a larval web
Larva

Gorse soft shoot moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Depressariidae
Genus:
Agonopterix
Species:
A. umbellana
Binomial name
Agonopterix umbellana
(Fabricius, 1794)
Synonyms
  • Pyralis umbellana Fabricius, 1794
  • Depressaria lennigiella Fuchs, 1880
  • Depressaria prostratella Constant, 1884
  • Depressaria ulicetella Stainton, 1849
  • Agonopterix ulicetella (Stainton, 1849)
  • Agonopterix umbellana f. knitschkei Predota, 1934

The wingspan is about 21 mm. The forewings are whitish ochreous ; veins and dorsum marked with dark fuscous lines ; first and sometimes second discal stigmata black ; terminal black dots. Hindwings pale whitish-grey, round apex sometimes interruptedly dark-edged. The larva is dull green ; dots black ; head and plate of 2 black[2]

Adults are on wing from August to April. It hibernates during winter and can reappear in the early spring.

The larvae feed on Ulex and Genista species within silken tubes.

References
  1. Eric Coombs (May 1, 2007). "Agonopterix ulicitella". Oregon Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  2. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description


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