Phalonidia affinitana explained

Phalonidia affinitana, the large saltmarsh conch or large saltmarsh bell, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae, the subfamily Tortricinae, and the tribe Cochylini. It is found in China (Liaoning, Tianjin, Xinjiang), Japan, Korea, Russia and most of Europe.[1] [2] Its habitat consists of salt marshes.[3]

Adults are on wing from June to August in western Europe. The larvae feed on the flowers of Aster tripolium.[4] [5]

Description

The wingspan is 11–14 mm. The forewings are elongate and the costa gently arched. The ground colour is light brownish-ochreous, submetallic and strigulated with fuscous. There is a slender straight brownish antemedian fascia parallel to the termen and interrupted beneath the costa and a dark fuscous dorsal dot or small spot before the tornus. The hindwings are grey. The larva is whitish, dorsally greyish - tinged; spiracular line faint, grey; head brown; plate of 2 black.[6]

For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

Similar species

Subspecies

Notes and References

  1. http://hkentsoc.org/bulletin/HKEB5%281%29_Sun&Li_Cochylini.pdf A Brief Summary of Tribe Cochylini from China (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae)
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20140324141711/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=439428 Fauna Europaea
  3. http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0932.php Hants Moths
  4. http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/tortricoidea/tortricidae/tortricinae/phalonidia/index.html Phalonidia at funet
  5. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=932 UKmoths
  6. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description