Cochylis molliculana

Cochylis molliculana is a moth of the family Tortricidae.

Cochylis molliculana
Cochylis molliculana. Dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Tortricidae
Genus:	Cochylis
Species:	C. molliculana
Binomial name
Cochylis molliculana Zeller, 1847[1]
Synonyms
Conchylis calavrytana Rebel, 1906 Cochylis rufosignana Kennel, 1899

Description

This species can be found in Great Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Cyprus.[2]

Habitat

These moths mainly inhabit coastal environments, wasteground, chalky meadows and scrubs.[3]

Side view

Description

Cochylis molliculana has a wingspan of 11–15 mm.[4] Labial palps, head, chest and tegulae of these moths are golden-brown. Forewings show a cream white background color, with some patches of different color, ranging from reddish brown to gray and ocher. In the middle of the forewings there is a blackish transversal band. The edges are fringed and bordered by a thin dark line. Underside of the forewings is pale brown. Also the hind wings are pale brown.[3][5]

Biology

Cochylis molliculana is a bivoltine species, having two generations per year. Adults fly in May – June and in August - September. Females lay eggs on the flowerhead of the bristly oxtongue (Picris echioides) in May–June and in July–September. The larvae feed on the seedheads of Picris echioides. The first generation pupates in a silken cocoon whinin the seedheads, while the second generation leaves the seedheads and the larvae spin a cocoon amongst debris in which they overwinter.[3][5][6]

References

1. Tortricidae.com
2. Fauna europaea
3. G. Doremi Altervista
4. "microlepidoptera.nl". Archived from the original on 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
5. Keith P. Bland, E.F. Hancock, J. Razowski Tortricidae, part 1: Tortricinae & Chlidanotinae
6. Hants Moths