Epiblema sticticana

Epiblema sticticana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1842.

Epiblema sticticana
With opened wings
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Tortricidae
Genus:	Epiblema
Species:	E. sticticana
Binomial name
Epiblema sticticana (Duponchel, in Godart, 1842) [1]
Synonyms
Pyralis sticticana Fabricius, 1794 Pyralis brunichana Fabricius, 1787 Epiblema brunichiana Hubner, [1825] Eucosma farfarae T. B. Fletcher, 1938 Epiblema kemnerana Lewin, 1942 Epiblema melstediana Larsen, 1927 Grapholitha quadratana Eversmann, 1844

Description

The wingspan is 15–20 mm.[2] Forewings show a subquadrate large whitish dorsal blotch and a light brown colouration.[3] These moths are very similar to Epiblema scutulana and Epiblema cirsiana,[2][4] but they are generally browner and lighter.[2]

Biology

The larvae feed on coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), winter heliotrope (Petasites fragrans), greater burdock (Arctium lappa), marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre), musk thistle (Carduus nutans) and spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare).[2][4] They initially feed in the roots, but later in the flower lower stems.[2] Adults are on wing from May to June.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found in almost all of Europe, as well as the eastern Palearctic realm and the Near East.[1] It mainly occurs in waste grounds, rough meadows, damp grounds and coastal areas.[2]

References

1. Fauna Europaea
2. UKMoths
3. British Lepidoptera
4. "Microlepidoptera.nl". Archived from the original on 2012-09-29. Retrieved 2011-09-21.