Lampronia flavifrontella

L. flavifrontella (Denis & Schiffermüller)

= L. pubicornis (Haworth)

Adult Characteristics

Depicted in Heath & Pelham-Clinton (1976). Wingspan 12-14 mm. Head pale yellow. Forewing light shining grayish ochreous. Hindwings lightly scaled, gray.

Comparison with similar species

Somewhat similar to fuscatella, but differs in being smaller and paler.

Host, oviposition, and larval feeding habits

Eggs are evidently laid in the exclusive host Rosa pimpinellifolia (Rosaceae), where the larva may feed in the flower when young. After hibernation, late-instar larvae feed inside young shoots, distorting the growth but not killing the shoots. Pupation takes place inside the host tissue. The adult emerges in early summer.

Geographic distribution

A species with patchy distribution throughout the British Isles, central and northern continental Europe, and western Russia and Caucasus.

Habitat

The host plant is confined to rocky alkaline soils and sandhills.

References

Heath, J. & E.C. Pelham-Clinton. 1976. The moths and butterflies
          of Great Britain and Ireland, vol I: Incurvariidae.  
          Blackwell Scientific Press and Curwen Press.

Holotype in ?.

About this page

Olle Pellmyr
E-mail: pellmyr@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu.
Dept of Biology, Vanderbilt University, Box 1812-B Nashville, TN 37235, USA

Title illustration: To be obtained